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SURPLUS 


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DUPLICATE 


THE 


THE    MOITTHLY   JOUHIT&L 


OF  THE 


Philatelic  Society,  London. 


Ii/L. 


IP.     C^^STXjE! 

Vice-President  of  the  Society. 


^-0^  Vol.  vr 


JANUARY     TO     DECEMBER,     1897. 


J 

n 

PUBLISHED    BY 

THE     PHILATELIC    SOCIETY,     LONDON, 
lEffingljam   l^ousf, 

Arundel   Street,    London,    W.C. 
1897. 


^    0 


V-^ 


JUN2  31958 


CONTENTS. 


PLATE   ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Her  Majesty  the  Queen,  in  Robes  of  State,  July 

I7>  1837, 
Bolivia  (2  plates), 
Zurich,  6  rappen, 

LEADERS. 

A  Colossal  Advertisement  of  Philately,  113. 

"A  Friend  of  Every  Country  but  His  Own,"  246. 

A  Seebeck  Census,  29. 

A  Sweeping  Change,  307. 

Diamond  Jubilee  and  Philately,  The,  145. 

London  Philatelic  Exhibition,  The,  85. 

Past  and  Future,  i. 

Philatelic  Exhibition,  The,  177. 

Philatelic  Society  of  India,  The,  57. 

Rock  Ahead,  The,  229. 

Spirit  of  the  Age,  The,  339. 

"The  Old  Order  Changeth,"  277. 

ARTICLES. 
Bolivia,  The  Stamps  of,  114,  148. 
British  East  Africa  (and  Zanzibar),  The  Stamps 

of.  255.  31S.  346. 
Crusade  Against  Speculative  Issues,  The,  280. 
Dies  of  the  Stamps  of  Naples,  1858,  and  Parma, 

1852-57,  and  Journal  Tax,  1853-57,  The,  86. 

Future,  The,  278. 

Grenada,  Some  Remarks  on  the  Stamps  of,  308. 
Leipsic  Philatelic  Exhibition,  The,  284. 
List    of    Members    of    the    Philatelic    Society, 
London,   173, 


London  Philatelic  Exhibition,  1897,  The, 
178. 
Inaugural  Ceremony,  179. 
Visits  of  T.R.H.  the  Prince  of  Wales  and 

the  Duke  of  York,   180. 
Dinner  of  the   Philatelic   Society,   London, 

182. 
Visitors  to  the  Exhibition,  183. 
The  Exhibits  (and  Awards),  1 84-2 1 8. 
New  South  Wales  Novelties,  234. 
New  South  Wales,  The  O.S.  Stamps  of,  3,  41. 
New  South  Wales,  The  Post  Cards  of,  231,  246. 
New  Zealand,  "Local  Posts,  1856,"  The,  59. 
New  Zealand,  Notes  on  the  First  Locally- Printed 

Stamps  of,  30. 
Notes  on   the   First   Locally-Printed   Stamps  of 

New  Zealand,  30. 
Notes  on  the   Railway   Letter    Fee    Stamps    of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  340. 

O.S.  Stamps  of  New  South  Wales,  The,  3,  41. 
Philatelic  Society,  London,  Report  of  the,  155. 

,,  ,,  ,,         Listof  Members,  173. 

Post  Cards  of  New  South  Wales,  The,  231,  246. 
Prince  of  Wales'    Hospital    Fund  for    London, 
The,  219. 

Railway  Letter  Fee  Stamps  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland,  Notes  on  the,  340. 

Report  of  the  Philatelic  Society,  London,  155. 

Retouched     Lithograph    of    the    6    Rappen    of 
Zurich,  The,  6. 

Some  Remarks  on  the  Stamps  of  Grenada,  308. 

S.S.S.S.,  The,  283,  318. 

Stamps  of  Bolivia,  The,  1 14,  148. 

Stamps  of  British   East   Africa  (and   Zanzibar), 

The,  25s,  315,  346. 
Zurich,    The    Retouched    Lithograph    of   the    6 

Rappen  of,  6. 


\) 


IV 


CONTENTS. 


PHILATELIC  NOTES. 

Another  "Fake"  of  the  First  Issue  of  France,  1 1. 
Austrian  Mercury  Forgeries,  The,  89. 

Cape  of  Good  Hope,  Provisionals  of  1861,  The,  10. 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  345. 

Dangerous  Forgeries  (France),  320. 
Discoveries — 

Austrian-Italy,  286. 

British  Guiana,  12. 

Great  Britain,  12. 

Holland,  15  c,  1867,  258,  287. 

Roumania,  288. 

Victoria:  Emblems,  287,  288,  320. 

First  Issue  of  Servia,  The,  88. 

Forgeries  of  the  Naples  Stamps,  286. 

Forgeries  of  the  1 85 1  and  1854  Issues  of  Spain, 

160. 
France,  Another  "Fake"  of  the  First  Issue  of, 

II. 

Gold  Coast  id.,  345. 

Great    Britain    Post    Cards  —  Varieties    of    the 
"Arms,"  221. 

Hawaii,  U.S.,  160. 

Holland,  15  c  ,  1867,  258,  287. 

Naples  Stamps,  Forgeries  of  the,  286. 
Niger  Coast  (Varieties  of  Perforation),  159 

Servia,  The  First  Issue  of,  88. 

Sierra   Leone,    1884,    5s.    on    is.,   green,    wmk. 

Cr.  CC,  221,  237,  259,  321. 
Sierra  Leone,  1896  Provisional  Issue,  322. 
South  Australia,  89. 
Spain,  Forgeries  of  the  1851  and  1854  Issues  of, 

160. 

U.S.  of  Colombia,  1863  Issue,  322. 
Zanzibar  and  B.  E.  Africa,  346. 

OCCASIONAL  NOTES. 

A  British  Stamp  Directory,  130. 

A  "Corner"  Rounded  Off,  164. 

A  Grave  Scandal,  90. 

A  Large  Collection,  91. 

A  New  Album  for  Brazil,  291. 

A  New  Colour  Standard,  289. 

Annual  Dinner  of  the  London  Philatelic  Society, 

The,  162. 
"As  Others  See  Us"— In  Victoria,  326. 
Australian  Notes,  166,  263,  293. 


A  Warning,  70. 

Awkward  Figures  in  Leeward  Islands'  Surcharges, 

348. 
Binding — Special  Notice,  351. 

Bogus  Jubilee  Stamps,  262. 
C.  H.  Mekeel  Stamp  Company,  The,  91. 
Canadian  and  Dominion  Philatelic  Association,  16. 
Council  of  the  Philatelic  Society,  London,  The, 
162. 

Death  of  Dr.  von  Stephan,  95. 
Death  of  Mr.  Hastings  E.  Wright,  294. 
Death  of  Mr.  H.  Gremmel,  262. 
Demand  for  Rare  Stamps,  The,  92. 

English  Stamps  at  the  London  Philatelic  Exhibi- 
tion, 324. 
Error  Issue  of  Tobago  Stamps,  The,  71. 
Expert  Committee,  The,  222,  324. 

Forgeries — Made  in  Italy,  162. 
German  Crusade  Against  Prices,  165. 
Giwelb's  Collection,  Mr.  i\L,  351. 

"  Health  Value  of  a  Hobby,"  326. 
Hospital  Stamp,  The,  350. 

Imperial  Penny  Postage,  261. 
International  Postal  Incomes,  347. 
Italian  Forgeries  of  the  3  Lire  Tuscany,  222. 
Italian  Postal  Museum,  The,  14. 

Krotzsch's  Handbook  on  German  Stamps,  348. 
Jubilee  Hospital  "Stamps,"  93,  126,  163,  219. 
Judges  of  the  Philatelic  Exhibition,  The,  161. 
Junior  Stamp  Collector,  The,  289. 

Late  Senor  Duro,  The,  262. 

Leipsic  Philatelic  Exhibition,  The,  263. 

London  Philatelic  Exhibition,  13,  49,  67, 

89,  125,  161,  238. 
London  Philatelic  Exhibition  Guarantees,  The,  13. 
Mighty  Fallen,  The,  68. 
New  Catalogues,  The,  90. 
New  Contract  for  the  Canadian  Stamps,  67. 
New  South  Wales — Contemplated  New  Issue,  128. 
New  Spanish  Philatelic  Paper,  A,  15. 
Ninth  German  Philatelic  Congress,  The,  166,  223. 

Official  Re-issues — U  S.,  13. 

Philately  and  Fraud,  129. 

Philatelic  Club  and  Exchange,  Limited,  The,  49. 
Philatelic  Exhibitions,  89. 
Philatelic  Exhibition  at  Plymouth,  95. 
Philatelic  Society  of  Victoria — Annual    Report, 
The,  266. 


CONTENTS. 


Philately  on  the  Riviera,  69. 

Postage  Stamp  Swindles,  347. 

Postal  Reform,  127. 

Postal  Union  Colours,  The,  350. 

Post  Office  Mauritius,  The,  325. 

Presentation  to  H.R.H.  the  Duke  of  York  of 

Canadian  Stamps,  238. 
Presentations  to  the  Tapling  Collection,  15,  288, 

325- 
Prince  of  Wales'  Hospital  Fund  Stamps,  93,  126, 
163,  219,  350. 

Reduction  of  Canadian  Postal  Rates,  349. 
Requirements  of  a  Modem  Catalogue,  The,  349. 

S.S.S.S.  Meeting  on  October  15th,  The,  261. 

Sale  of  Dr.  Legrand's  Collection,  29a 

Sale  of  Mr.  W.  W.  Elesr's  Australian  Collection, 

291. 
Sale  of  the  Leeward  Islands  Jubilee  Set,  326. 
Stamp  Frands  in  Victoria,  68. 
Step-motherly  Attentions,  289. 
Sundry  Philatelic  PubHcatioos,  164,  222. 
Surcharges  a  V  Oriental,  2^. 
Switzerland  a  la  Centennial,  14. 

Tapling  C<Jlection,  The,  15, 49, 67,  70,  162,  288, 

325- 
Tifiany,  The  Late  Mr.  J.  K.,  94. 
Trade  Comment  on  Speculative  Issues,  323. 
Treasury   Grant   for   the   Arrangement    of    the 

Tapling  Collection,  70. 

Uganda  Cowrie  Stamps,  237. 

REVIEWS. 

Brill's  Catalogue  fat  1897,  132 

Heligolajid  and  its  Stamps,  328. 

J.    M.   Baitel   ic   Co.'s  CaXaJagae  of   Stamped 
Envelopes,  United  States,  133. 

Morky's  Catak^ne,  Mr.  W.,  239. 

Postage  Stamps  and  their  CdOection,  18. 

Romagna,  The  Stamps  of,  352. 

Scott  Catalogue,  The,  1897,  72- 

SenTs  Catakig:ne,  Messrs.,  240. 

Standard  Catalogue  (1898;,  The,  352. 

Stanley  Gibbois'  Catalogue,  1897,  17,  131,  239. 

Westobf's  "Stamps  of  Europe,"  Mr.,  266,  329. 


NEW  ISSUES. 

British  Empire. 
Barbados,  355. 
Bermuda,  73. 

British  Bechuanaland,  134,  223,  241. 
Britbh  Central  .\frica,  50,  97,  168. 
British  East  Africa,  50,  329. 
British  Honduras,  223. 
British  South  Africa  (Rhodesia),  50,  97,  170,  242, 

268,  295. 
Bondi,  295. 

Canada,  51,  134,  168,  223,  329. 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  19,  97,  267. 
Cejlon,  51. 
Cbarkari,  98,  296. 
Cochin,  51,  296. 
Duttia,  98,  224,  296,  330. 

Fiji.  51.  355- 

Gambia,  73,  295. 

Great  Britain,  97,  241,  267,  355. 

Gwalior,  134. 

Hotksar,  169. 

HoDg  Koag,  330,  355. 

India,  169. 
Jamaica,  73. 
Labaan,  73,  241,  295. 
Las  Bela,  224,  296. 
Leeward  Islands,  268. 

^lalta,  268. 

Mauritins,  134,  169,  224,  241. 

Natal,  296. 

Hefyi  Sembilan,  19. 

Newfoandknd,  224,  241,  330,  355. 

New  Hebrides,  169. 

New  Sooth  Wales,  51,  g&,  170,  224,  241,  296, 

330- 
New  Zealand,  296,  355. 
Niger  Coast  Protectorate,  73,  134,  268,  296. 
North  Borneo,  73,  242,  296. 

Pahang,  19,  225. 

Feiak,  19. 

Queembnd,  19,  98,  134,  170,  296. 

Rhodesia  (B.S.A,),  50,  97,  170,  242,  268,  295- 

Sarawak,  330,  356. 

Seychelles,  98,  170,  242. 

Sierra  Leooe,  98,  134,  170,  224,  269. 

Sooth  Anstralia,  99,  135,  242,  269. 

St.  Hdena,  51,  73. 


VI 


CONTENTS. 


St.  Vincent,  73,  242,  330. 
Sungei  Ujong,  19. 
Tasmania,  242,  269. 
Tobago,  19,  74. 
Travancore,  51. 
Uganda,  135,  170,  297,  330. 
Victoria,  269,  330,  356. 
Western  Australia,  19. 
Zanzibar,  19,  51,  74. 

Europe. 
Austria,  171,  297. 
Austrian  Levant,  52,  75. 

Bavaria,  356. 
Belgium,  52,  225,  297. 

Denmark,  74. 
Finland,  74,  135. 
France,  19,  52. 
Germany,  225,  297,  331. 

Holland,  52,  225,  356. 
Hungary,  297,  331. 

Italy,  74,  99,  171,  225. 

Luxemburg,  74. 

Monaco,  20,  52,  74,  99,  297. 

Roumania,  52,  356. 

Russia,  356. 

San  Marino,  135,  297. 

Spain,  331,  357. 

Sweden,  20,  99,  270. 

Switzerland,  99,  225,  331. 

Turkey,  20,  74,  99. 

Wurtemberg,  356. 

America. 

Argentine  Republic,  74,  99,  225,  331. 

Bolivia,  135,  171,  225,  298,  331. 

Brazil,  99,  270. 

Chili,  298,  356. 

Colombia,  135,  171,  270. 

Dominican  Republic,  270. 

Ecuador,  74,  270,  298. 

Honduras,  298. 

Mexico,  52,  75,  13s,  298,  331,  356. 

Nicaragua,  75. 

Panama,  52. 

Paraguay,  99. 


Peru,  20,  99,  171,  298. 

Salvador,  75. 

United  States,  270,  298,  332. 
Uruguay,  242,  271,  331,  356. 

Other  Countries. 
Angra,  20,  53,  76,  171. 

Cameroons,  75,  100. 

China,  75,  13s,  242,  299,  332,  356. 

Comoro  Islands,  300,  332. 

Congo  Free  State,  99,  136,  171. 

Cuba,  22s,  357. 

Curasao,  52,  99. 

Dutch  Indies,  171,  356. 

Eritrea,  271,  332,  357. 

Fernando  Po,  52,  225,  271,  357. 

French  Morocco,  243. 

Funchal,  20,  53,  76,  171. 

German  South-West  Africa,  75,  100. 

Hayti,  52,  332. 

Hawaiian  Islands,  76,  100. 

Horta,  20,  53,  76,  171. 

Japan,  357. 

Liberia,  20,  53,  271,  300. 

Madagascar,  76. 

Marshall  Islands,  75,  100. 

New  Guinea  (German),  75,  100. 

Orange  Free  State,  20,  53,  100,  300. 

Persia,  100,  357. 

Philippine  Islands,  225,  300,  332,  357. 
Ponta  Delgada,  20,  53,  76,  171. 
Porto  Rico,  171,  225,  357. 

Siam,  332. 

Soudan,  136,  171,  225,  300. 
Spanish  Colonies,  357. 
Surinam,  53,  100. 

Togo,  76,  loo. 

Tonga,  243. 

Transvaal,  20,  53,  332. 

Tunis,  76. 

Zanzibar  (French  P.O.),  271,  300,  357. 

PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 
Birmingham,  22,  78,  103,  226,  272,  302,  333,  361. 
Bradford,  23  (55). 

Brighton  and  Sussex,  23,  104,  227,  272. 
Collectors'  Club,  The,  107,  227,  275,  304,  334,  363. 


CONTENTS. 


India,  174. 

London,  21,  54,  76,  100,  136,  172,  358. 
Manchester,  56,  104,  138,  273,  302,  333,  362. 
New  York,  79,  105,  138,  276,  335,  363. 
Plymouth,  24,  79,  no,  139,  274. 
Suburban  Stamp  Exchange,   78,    109,  141,    174, 
274.  304.  335.  364- 

CORRESPONDENCE. 
A  Disclaimer,  365. 
A  Subject  Index  of  Stamps,  27,  81. 
Army  Official  Stamps,  The,  82. 
Cape  Local  Prints,  The,  175. 
Forged  Ceylon  Surcharges,  141. 
Great  Britain,  2d.,  blue,  thick  white  lines;  SC; 

perf.  16,  III. 
Great  Britain,  2s.,  brown,  276,  305. 
Greek  Olympian  Stamps,  The,  27, 
Lourenzo  Marques,   Provisional,   50  reis  on  300 

reis,  82. 
Niger  Coast  Stamps,  The,  27,  142. 
Record  of  Continuous  Collecting,  The,  336. 
"Surcharge,"  The,  26. 
When  are  Stamps  not  Stamps?  81. 


THE   MARKET. 
Auctions — 

Albrecht  and  Co.,  Messrs.  R.  F.,  144. 

Buhl  and  Co.,  Ltd.,  Messrs.,  144,  176. 

Cheveley  and  Co.,  Messrs.,  28,  83,  84,  112, 

144,  244,  306,  338. 
Hadlow,  Mr.  W.,  244,  338,  366. 
Puttick  and   Simpson,  Messrs.,  28,  83,  84, 

112,  143.  175.  228,  244,  306,  338,  366. 
Ventom,  Bull,  and  Cooper,  Messrs.,  28,  83, 

84,  112,  143,  17s,  228,  244,  306,  337,  366. 
Wolsieffer,  Mr.  P.  M.,  84,  144. 

CONTRIBUTORS. 
Bartlett,  A.  A.,  278. 
Bassett  Hull,  A.  F.,  231,  246. 
Castle,  M.  P.,  6. 
Diena,  Dr.  E.,  86. 
Marshall,  C.  F.  Dendy,  340. 
Mottram,  Charles  H.,  30,  59. 
"  N.S.  W.  and  Crown,"  3,  41. 
Oldfield,  H.  R.,  114,  148. 
Taylor,  Dr.  Stanley,  308. 


'\ 


THE 


30iti0n  IMInMist: 


THE    MONTHLY    JOURNAL    OF 

THE    PHILATELIC   SOCIETY,    LONDON. 


Vol.    VI. 


JANUARY,    1897. 


No.    61. 


^ast  anb  Jxiture, 


HE  annals  of  the  bygone  year  will  in  the  future  be 
principally  memorable  amongst  the  world  of  stamp  col- 
lectors by  somewhat  sad  reminiscences  of  those  who  have 
passed  away,  prominent  among  whom  in  English  circles 
were  the  Earl  of  Kingston  and  Mr.  Gilbert  Lockyer.  The 
late  Lord  Kingston  was  the  first  Past-President  of  the 
London  Philatelic  Society  to  depart  from  us,  the  first  and 
second  Presidents,  Sir  Daniel  Cooper,  Bart.,  and  his 
Honour  Judge  Philbrick,  O.C,  both  being  happily  still 
spared  to  us — while  it  is  the  sincere  hope  of  all  ranks  that 
they  may  yet  be  spared  for  many  years  more  of  their  busy 
and  successful  careers. 
Among  other  features  of  1896  were  the  holding  of  Philatelic  Exhibi- 
tions on  the  Continent,  at  the  Hague  and  Geneva,  and  an  unusual  number 
of  convictions  in  connection  with  stamp  robberies  and  frauds.  In 
"Society"  life  there  has  been  a  steady  and  satisfactory  increase  in 
membership  both  in  London  and  the  country,  while  in  New  York,  the 
first  real  home  or  club  common  to  all  the  local  branches  connected  with 
.stamps  (while  reserving  to  each  also  its  own  precincts  and  liberties)  has 
been  most  successfully  founded.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  some  day  so 
excellent  an  example  may  find  followers  in  Europe. 

As  regards  what  most  affects  our  readers — the  stamps  themselves — 
1896  has  seen  some  striking  and  significant  evolutions  as  regards 
literature,  "  finds,"  and  prices.  Prominent  among  the  former  have  been  the 
appearance  of  the  first  portions  of  the  London  Philatelic  Societj^'s  work 
on  the  African  Colonies  and  the  Stamps  of  Barbados  by  Messrs.  Bacon 
and  Napier,  while  the  successful  editing  of  catalogues  has,  in  this  country 


2  PAST  AND  FUTURE. 

especially,  made  marked  advance.  Among  the  "  finds "  have  been  the 
recent  Nova  Scotia  cents  issue  and  a  number  of  West  Indian  and  certain 
Australian  stamps  in  their  primitive  mint  condition.  Although  the  financial 
aspects  of  the  question  do  not  call  for  especial  stress  in  our  columns,  we 
are  not  justified  in  abstaining  from  passing  them  briefly  in  review,  seeing 
how  vitally  they  may  affect  the  interests  of  many  of  our  readers.  The 
prices  attached  to  many  of  the  stamps  of  the  West  Indian  Colonies — 
ancient  and  modern  — have,  to  use  the  expressive  American  vernacular, 
"  burst  through  the  roof,"  and  every  variety  of  stamp,  except  current 
issues,  hailing  from  the  West  Indies,  has  been  raised  from  the  dimensions 
of  the  frog  in  1890  to  those  of  the  bull  in  1896.  May  the  final  result 
in  the  ^Esopian  fable,  however,  be  averted,  though  the  danger  of  over- 
inflation  must  be  patent  to  all  ;  sudden  rises  in  all  things  commercial 
mean  possible  equally  sudden  relapses.  In  other  grades,  there  has  been 
a  distinct  revival  of  interest  in  the  better  South  American  States,  and 
further  growing  evidence  of  the  popularity  of  the  European  countries. 
Even  here  the  swelling  propensities  of  the  would-be  bull  are  to  be  seen, 
and  the  stamps  of  Scandinavia  unused  have  been,  and  are  being,  forced 
up  far  too  quickly.  From  all  this  one  thing  stands  out  clearly.  No  one, 
except  abnormally  rich  people,  will  after  this  century  be  able  to  afford 
to  make  general  or  even  group  collections  of  unused  stamps,  which  will 
be  left  to  the  patriotic  or  specialist  collector.  It  is  palpable,  that  the 
early  issues  of  unused  stamps  of  most  countries  do  not  to-day,  and 
certainly  will  not  suffice  to-morrow  to  go  rouitd,  and  that  therefore  they 
will  inevitably  be  driven  beyond  the  reach  of  the  general  collector.  In 
all  these  cases,  however,  the  rise  is  slow,  gradual,  and  hence  sure.  Fortu- 
nately for  the  latter  there  are,  and  always  will  be,  plenty  of  used  specimens, 
and  with  due  discrimination  collections  of  the  greatest  interest  may  be 
formed  therefrom. 

As  regards  the  future,  we  are  all  anxiously  anticipating  the  glories  of 
a  Jubilee  Year  in  general,  and  of  the  London  Philatelic  Exhibition  in 
particular.  The  success  of  the  latter  is  practically  assured,  and  we  are 
confident  it  will  be  a  brilliant  affair.  Without  doubt  there  will  be  an  array 
of  stamps  shown  that  will  astonish  even  the  exhibitors  themselves,  while 
we  firmly  believe,  on  financial  grounds  alone,  the  results  will  astonish  the 
public — and  (we  hope)  the  guarantors.  Everything  points  in  the  sixtieth 
year  of  Her  Gracious  Majesty's  reign  to  continued  and  increasing  Philatelic 
prosperity — a  consummation  which  we  most  devoutly  wish  to  all  concerned. 


[     3     ] 


ihj  #.§.  stamps  of  Seta  Soutlj  Mirlcs. 


By  N.S.W.  and  crown. 


* 


T  is  possible  that  Philatelists  will  read  the  title  of  this  article, 
'K.         and  turn  away  with  indifference,  or  even  a  stronger  feeling^ 
leaving  its  perusal  for  some  future  day  when  the  atmosphere 
is  less  clouded  with  sulphurous  remarks  about  the  series. 

But,  really,  there  is  no  time  like  the  present  to  publish 
a  "  full,  true,  and  particular  account  "  of  these  really  interesting 
stamps.  Their  existence  as  prepayment  labels  was  brought  to  a  close  on 
the  31st  of  December,  1894,  and  the  reprints  which  threatened  to  do,  and 
did,  so  much  harm  to  their  reputation  and  market  value,  have  been  with- 
drawn from  sale  and  destroyed.  Consequently  now  is  the  time  to  gather  all 
the  available  information  in  one  connected  article,  so  that  the  student  may 
have  sure  and  certain  ground  to  go  upon,  the  fullest  and  most  reliable  data 
as  to  varieties  officially  issued,  and  such  guiding  lines  with  regard  to  the 
reprints  as  will  enable  him  to  pursue  his  collecting  tactics  well  informed  as 
to  all  mines  and  pitfalls. 

From  the  date  when  adhesive  stamps  were  first  issued  in  New  South 
Wales,  official  correspondence  was  required  to  be  prepaid  by  means  of  such 
stamps — there  being  no  mark  placed  upon  them  to  distinguish  them  from 
those  used  for  ordinary  correspondence.  There  were  a  few  exemptions  from 
postage,  such  as  communications  between  the  head  office  and  branch  or 
country  Post  Offices,  petitions  to  the  Governor  and  Legislature,  and  returns 
of  births,  marriages,  and  deaths;  but  the  bulk  of  departmental  mail  matter 
was  franked  by  stamps  representing  the  ordinary  rates  of  postage. 

These  stamps  were  supplied  to  the  various  departments  on  requisition, 
and  the  face  value  debited  against  their  votes  for  expenditure,  thus  forming 
part  of  the  revenue  credited  to  the  Post  Office. 

The  Secretary  of  the  Post  Office,  in  June,  1879,  suggested  that  a  die  for  a 
2d.  stamp  of  special  design  should  be  prepared,  and  impressions  struck  on 
envelopes  for  official  use.  The  major  portion  of  the  official  correspondence 
coming  under  the  2d.  rate,  it  was  submitted  that  an  impressed  stamp  of  that 
value  would  be  sufficient  to  serve  the  purpose,  i.e.,  to  save  the  time  expended 
in  affixing  adhesive  stamps  ;  and  that  adhesive  stamps  of  the  other  values  in 
use  might  be  perforated  with  the  initials  of  the  respective  departments  by 
which  they  were  used,  such  as  P.O.  for  Post  Office,  Tr.  for  Treasury,  L.D.  for 
Lands  Department,  &c.  The  principles  of  rendering  these  stamps  available 
for  official  correspondence  only,  requiring  them  to  be  afifixed  to  envelopes 
endorsed  "O.H.M.S."  and  the  name  of  the  department,  and  forbidding  their 
repurchase  by  the  Post  Office  Department,  were  concisely  laid  down. 


4  THE   OS.   STAMPS  OF  NEW  SOUTH   WALES. 

The  general  principle  of  a  distinctive  stamp  for  official  purposes  was 
approved,  and  on  the  suggestion  of  the  Government  printer,  it  was  decided 
to  surcharge  each  denomination  of  the  ordinary  postage  stamps  with  the 
initials  "  O.S."  (on  service)  in  black,  and  to  issue  them  to  all  Government 
Departments  for  official  use. 

I  have  seen  an  essay  for  an  impressed  stamp,  apparently  prepared  partly 
in  accordance  with  the  suggestion  above  referred  to. 

A  circle,  with  thick  outer  and  thin  inner  line,  contains  an  inscription 
in  block  capitals,  "  Official  Postage  New  South  Wales.  One  shilling."  The 
centre  of  the  circle  is  left  plain,  but  beneath  this  impression  there  is  a 
diademed  profile  of  Queen  to  left,  on  ground  of  coarse  horizontal  lines, 
enclosed  in  a  fine  circular  line.  This  was  evidently  intended  to  occupy 
the  inscribed  circle.  The  words,  "  One  penny,"  "  Twopence,"  and  "  Sixpence," 
are  also  printed  on  the  same  paper  as  the  above-described  two  portions  of 
a  design.  The  impressions  are  in  orange-brown,  and  plate  printed.  The 
principle  of  this  essay  was  never  carried  out. 

The  first  Gazette  notice  relating  to  the  new  system  was  as  follows : — 

"General  Post  Office, 

"Sydney,   \^th  Dec,   1879. 

"His  Excellency  the  Governor,  with  the  advice  of  the  Executive  Council,  has 
been  pleased  to  approve  of  the  introduction  of  a  special  description  of  Postage 
Stamps  for  use  by  the  various  Government  Departments.  These  stamps — which 
are  distinguishable  by  the  letters  'O.S.'  printed  thereon  in  black— are  only  available 
for  official  correspondence,  and  letters  having  Postage  Stamps  of  this  character  affixed 
thereto  are  liable  to  be  intercepted  by  the  Post  Office,  unless  the  envelopes  bear  the 
endorsement  'O.H.M.S.,'  with  the  name  of  the  Department  from  which  they  are 
sent  in  the  corner ;  or,  in  the  case  of  letters  addressed  to  a  Department,  the  name 
of  the  sender  written  in  the  corner. 

"  Under  no  pretext  whatever  will  these  stamps  be  purchased  by,  or  exchanged 
for  other  Postage  Stamps  at  the  Post  Office. 

"  Saul  Samuel." 

It  will  be  seen  that  no  date  was  fixed  by  the  notice  for  the  system  to 
come  into  operation,  and  it  appears  somewhat  doubtful  whether  the  ist 
January,  1880,  generally  accepted  hitherto  as  the  date  of  issue,  was  the 
exact  date  of  the  earliest  use  of  O.S.  Stamps. 

The  first  requisition  sent  to  the  Government  printer  by  the  cashier 
of  the  General  Post  Office,  for  a  supply  of  official  stamps,  was  entered  under 
date  "for  the  week  ending  22nd  October,  1879,"  and  the  order  was  for 
120,000  id.,  240,000  2d.,  3000  3d.,  30,000  4d.,  24,000  6d.,  and  6000  is.  The 
first  supply  of  these  stamps  was  issued  by  the  ca.shier  to  "  Public  Offices  " 
during  the  same  week,  and  consisted  of  11,760  id.,  21,720  2d.,  1440  4d., 
160  6d.,  and  320  is. 

A  brief  account  of  the  method  followed  in  the  procuring  and  issuing 
of  these  stamps  will  be  useful  to  the  reader. 

All  stamps  were  (and  are)  printed  at  the  Government  printing  office,  the 
Government  printer  being  also  Inspector  of  Stamps,  and  supplies  were 
furnished  to  the  cashier  of  the  General   Post   Office  upon   requisition,  the 


THE   OS.   STAMPS   OF  NEW  SOUTH    WALES.  5 

totals  of  these  requisitions  being  entered  in  the  Cashier's  Stamp  Receipt  and 
Issue  Book.  Supplies  were  obtained  by  the  various  public  offices  from  the 
cashier,  also  upon  requisition,  and  the  quantities  were  entered  as  issued, 
a  page'  of  the  book  being  devoted  to  each  week.  The  page  thus  showed 
the   total    receipts    and    issues    for    the   week,   together   with   the   balance 

remaining  on  hand. 

At  the  time  of  issue  of  the  O.S.  stamps,  the  ordinary  adhesive  stamps 
in  use  were  id.,  2d.,  4d.,  6d.,  gd.,  lod.,  and  is.,  from  Do  La  Rue's  electro- 
types;  and  3d.,  5d.,  8d.,  and  5s.,  from  Perkins  and  Bacon's  steel  plates. 
There' were  also  envelopes  stamped  with  the  id.  type,  and  the  small-sized 
post  card  of  1876.  From  these  were  selected  the  types  which  were  over- 
printed with  the  letters  "O.S."  on  22nd  October,  1879,  and  subsequent  dates, 
until  superseded  by  types  of  later-issued  stamps. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  the  Executive  approval  and  Gazette  notice  both 
speak  of  the  overprint  as  being  in  black,  and  this  term  is  repeated  in  the 
Executive  approval  of  17th  April,   1882,  hereinafter  referred  to. 

The  id.,  4d.,  and  6d.  values,  overprinted  in  October,  1879,  undoubtedly 
bore  the  "O.S."  in  black;  but  the  3d.  and  is.  as  undoubtedly  bore  it  in  red. 
In  the  case  of  the  latter  value  the  reason  for  this  colour  being  adopted 
is  abundantly  apparent,  the  stamp  itself  being  printed  in  black  ;  but  with 
regard  to  the  3d.  the  reason  is  not  so  clear,  as  black  would  show  more 
distinctly  against  the  light  green  of  the  stamp  than  red.  Some  copies 
of  the  2d.  appear  to  have  been  first  issued  with  "O.S."  in  red;  but  at  an  early 
stage   of  the  proceedings  this  colour  was  evidently   abandoned   in   favour 

of  the  black. 

Taking  into  consideration  the  distinct  wording  of  the  approval,  it 
appears  strange  that  even  the  is,  stamp  was  permitted  to  bear  the  over- 
print in  red,  without  some  reference  to  the  change  in  colour;  but  the  fact 
that  it  passed  without  comment  will  also  account  for  the  absence  of  any 
special  notice  in  the  case  of  the  other  values. 

(  To  be  continued. ) 


r  6  ] 


^t  glctou^b  f  it^ograplj  of  tljt  6  |lapp£n 

of  litrif^* 

A  Paper  Read  Before  the  Philatelic  Society,  London,  on  ioth  April,  1896, 

By  M.  p.  castle. 


ESPITE  their  unpretentious — not  to  say  primitive— appear- 
ance, the  stamps  of  Zurich  have  ahvays  maintained  as 
strong  a  hold  upon  the  affections  of  collectors  as  any  others 
of  the  interesting  and  popular  Cantonal  Issues  of  Switzer- 
land. The  reasons  for  this  popularity  are  not  far  to  seek, 
the  first  claim  being  that  of  a  hoary  antiquity,  judged  from 
a  Philatelic  aspect.  The  Zurich  stamps  were  issued  on  or  shortly  after  the 
1st  March,  1843,  being  thus  not  only  the  senior  of  all  the  remaining 
Cantonals,  but  constitute  the  second  issue  of  adhesive  stamps  of  the  whole 
world.  England's  lead  in  1840,  to  the  credit  of  Switzerland,  was  first 
followed  among  European  nations  by  the  Canton  of  Zurich,  closely  pursued, 
however,  by  the  neighbouring  Cantons  and  Brazil.  The  second  claim  to 
favour  for  the  Zurich  stamps  has  been  their  rarity ;  or  to  be  accurate,  the 
scarcity  of  the  4  rappen,  under  which  designation  I  still  describe  it,  although 
M.  de  Reuterskiold,  in  his  able  work  on  the  Swiss  stamps,  intimated  that 
"kreuzers"  is  correct.  The  4  rappen  was  used  only  for  strictly  local  purposes, 
while  the  higher  value  was  available  for  circulation  throughout  the  whole 
Canton  ;  the  former  was  therefore  infinitely  less  used,  and  has  always  been 
a  scarce  stamp.  During  my  thirty  years'  acquaintance  with  stamps,  and 
even  in  the  days  when  a  Zurich  4  was  worth  fewer  shillings  than  its  present 
value  in  pounds,  I  can  never  recollect  this  stamp  being  plentiful,  or  occurring 
in  any  way  except  as  angels'  visits— few  and  far  between.  A  third  and 
perhaps  even  more  cogent  reason  for  the  popularity  of  these  stamps — and 
one  naturally  affecting  the  value  if  not  the  rarity — is  the  fact  that  they  exist 
in  types.  These  types  are,  from  a  Philatelist's /<?/;;/  cic  vue,  "all  that  there 
is  to  desire,"  fairly  easy  to  decipher,  and  strictly  select  in  number. 

In  the  excellent  and  interesting  paper  on  the  Swiss  stamps,  read  before 
the  Brighton  Philatelic  Society,  and  published  in  The  London  Philatelist 
in  November  and  December  last,  by  Mr.  Otto  Pfenninger,  it  is  stated,  inter 
alia,  that  on  and  after  March  (1843)  the  use  of  stamps,  etc.,  would  be 
instituted,  the  earliest  dated  copy  known  being  March  12th,  and  the  latest 
March  nth,  1850.  It  is  also  stated  that  "the  stamps  were  printed  on 
ordinary  paper  in  large  quantities,  loo  on  a  sheet— that  is  ten  each  way,"' 
and  that  the  familiar  red  vertical  or  horizontal  lines  were  added  subsequently 
to  the  printing  "from  the  original  plates."  The  formation  of  each  line 
of  ten  stamps,  as   proved   by  existing  blocks,  was  that  of   the  fi\-e  types 


RETOUCHED  LITHOGRAPH  OF   THE  6  RAPPEN  OF  ZURICH.         7 

repeated,  which  five  varieties,  en  bloc,  should  thus  appear  twenty  times  on 
each  sheet  without  presenting  any  variation. 

The  object,  however,  of  this  note  is  to  show  that  such  is  not  absolutely 
the  case,  and  that,  though  not  of  an  important  nature,  certain  varieties 
from  the  normal  state  are  to  be  found  in  the  case  of  the  6  rappen.  I 
may  premise  my  remarks  herein  by  saying  that  although  I  have  examined  a 
large  number  of  the  4  rappens,  I  have  been  unable  to  discover  any  defect  in 
the  printing  such  as  I  am  now  referring  to. 

Although  these  stamps  are  so  well  known  that  no  description  is  required, 
it  is  necessary  to  call  attention  to  the  formation  of  the  background,  in  order 
to  show  the  subsequent  deviations.  The  whole  surface  of  these  stamps 
is  covered  with  oblique  lines  crossing  each  other,  these  lines  being  each 
in  groups  of  four,  and  each  stamp  having  either  15  or  16  of  such  groups, 
with  or  without  a  fractional  part  of  another  group  ;  this  applies  naturally 
to   both    transecting    sets    of  lines,    and    they    necessarily    vary  with    each 

type- 
It  is  with  regard  to  defective  impressions  of  these  lines  that  I  wish  to 
direct  your  attention.  I  may  add  that  I  have  been  possessed  of  some  of 
these  minor  varieties  for  years,  and  that  they  have  long  been  known  to 
several  Philatelic  students.  I  should,  however,  have  hesitated  to  publish 
these  notes  until  I  had  obtained  further  information ;  but  I  have  read  lately 
in  various  Continental  journals  that  it  was  a  new  discovery,  and  it  seemed  to 
me,  therefore,  a  fitting  occasion  to  say,  that  as  far  as  several  Philatelists 
in  this  country  are  concerned,  the  "  discovery "  is  by  no  means  new,  and 
that  there  are  phases  of  the  matter  that  have  not  yet  been  fully  elucidated. 
The  origin  of  the  paragraphs  that  have  been  going  the  rounds  is  doubtless 
one  in  the  Schweis  Briefmarken  Journal,  which  in  No.  12  of  last  year 
contained  the  following  remarks: — 

"  It  may  interest  many  collectors  to  know  that  there  is  a  stamp  of  the  6  Zurich, 
namely,  Type  III.,  which  shows  in  the  network  on  the  left  top  side  a  very  rough, 
inaccurately-executed  repair  on  the  plate.  This  repair,  starting  from  the  Z  of  the 
word  Zurich,  touches  the  figure  6,  and  embraces  (commencing  from  the  left  top 
corner  up  to  the  figure  6)  exactly  19  of  the  inner  netlines  which  run  from  the  left- 
hand  side  upwards  in  a  slanting  fashion,  and  12  netlines  from  the  left  corner,  which 
run  down  from  the  top  to  the  figure  6.  The  whole  looks  blotchy  and  like  a  repaired 
stamp,  as  the  plate  must  have  been  mended  in  a  superficial  manner,  so  that  some 
of  the  netlines  run  quite  crookedly;  two  lines  having  become  partially  repaired,  give  the 
appearance  of  being  one  thick  one,  while  further,  two  lines  close  together  instead 
of  one  are  visible.  These  stamps  have,  up  to  the  present  time,  simply  been  looked 
upon  as  repaired  stamps,  which  is  certainly  not  the  case,  as  the  Briefmarken  Borse 
a  few  days  ago  obtained  possession  of  the  exact  counterpart.  My  specimen  is 
on  an  original  envelope;  date,  1847." 

This  description  is  fairly  faithful,  but  will  bear  amplification.  I  now 
submit  to  your  inspection  two  unused  unsevered  strips  of  the  6  rappen, 
with  horizontal  lines,  each  one  containing  the  five  types.  One  strip 
(Illustration  A)  has  all  the  varieties  normal,  and,  as  shown  by  the 
margin,  is  from  the  right-hand  side  of  the  sheet.     The  other  strip  (Illustration 


8         RETOUCHED  LITHOGRAPH  OF  THE  6  RAP  PEN  OF  ZURICH. 

B)  has  the  third  type  presenting  the  peculiarities  referred  to.  The  fact 
that  the  repair  was  made  upon  the  stone  at  the  time  will  at  once  be 
apparent  by  the  exact  similarity  in  tone  as  to  the  ink  of  the  added  lines,  and 
the  undisturbed  state  of  the  original  gumming  on  the  reverse.  Illustration 
B  I  is  the  same,  but  is  of  interest  as  showing  how  absolutely  alike  are  these 
retouches.  Counting  the  groups  of  lines  from  the  upper  left  corner,  it  will  be 
seen  that  all  the  five  groups  of  four  lines  each  between  that  angle  and  the 
figure  have  been  altered  or  added  to,  while  counting  from  the  right  upper 
angle,  groups  6,  7,  and  8  have  been  altered.  It  will  be  seen  further  that  the 
retouch  interferes  slightly  with  the  horizontal  line  beneath  the  word  "  Zurich  " 
above,  and  that  close  to  the  left  top  of  the  figure  6  the  normal  white  space 
separating  the  groups  has  been  covered  by  additional  faint  lines.  The  entire 
alteration,  as  evidenced  by  the  thick  and  irregular  lines  that  quite  destroy 
the  uniformity  of  the  design,  must  have  been  of  a  hurried  and  perfunctory 
nature,  and  doubtless  was  effected  by  the  printer  at  the  time  of  the  transfer, 
when  he  perceived  the  defective  patch.  In  the  normal  stamp  there  is  a 
curious  break  in  the  lower  extreme  right  angle,  which,  taken  with  the  differing 
compartment  lines,  point  to  another  position  on  the  plate.  It  seems  that  this 
particular  transfer  was  executed  at  a  comparatively  late  date,  as  not  only  is 
the  used  specimen  previously  mentioned  dated  1847,  but  I  have  a  somewhat 
analogous  variety  bearing  the  postmark  of  July  12,  1848  (Illustration  C). 
This  latter  stamp  is  Type  IV.,  with  horizontal  background,  and  the  defects 
occur  in  nearly  the  same  position.  Counting  from  the  left  upper  corner,  groups 
2,  3,  4,  and  5  have  all  been  so  ineffectively  transferred  on  to  the  stone  as  to 
present,  in  conjunction  with  groups  5,  6,  7,  and  8,  reckoning  from  the  rigJit 
upper  corner,  a  white  space  upon  the  stamp.  A  half-hearted  attempt  seems  to 
have  been  commenced  to  repair  this,  as  on  the  first  lines  of  group  2  of  the 
former  and  7  of  the  latter,  two  short  and  thickened  black  strokes  have  been 
added.  I  am  also  inclined  to  think  that  there  has  been  an  additional  faint 
tracing  of  lines  over  the  whole  of  the  white  patch. 

[Since  the  foregoing  was  written  I  have  obtained  a  second  specimen 
of  this  variety  (Illustration  C  i)  which  is  a  sharper  impression,  and  to  my 
mind  seems  clearly  to  indicate  a  retouch.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  groups 
of  lines,  which  in  the  normal  variety  of  this  stamp  slightly  infringe  on  the 
top  label,  have  been  apparently  inadvertently  lengthened.  It  will  be  seen  on 
either  side  of  the  "l"  of  "  Zurich  " — those  on  the  right  of  that  letter  projecting 
almost  two-thirds  across  the  upper  label.  Beyond  this  it  seems  to  me  that 
the  last  line  of  the  second  group  from  the  left  has  been  thickened,  and  that 
those  on  the  third  and  fourth  group  from  the  left,  as  also  those  that  transect 
them,  have  been  faintly  redrawn,  with  the  result  that  their  relative  positions 
to  each  other  are  altered — as  against  those  in  the  normal  type ;  and  further, 
that  a  large  irregularly-shaped  diamond  is  hence  formed  directly  under  the 
"  R  "  of  "  Zurich."  It  is  evident  that  these  two  stamps  are  either  from  a 
different  part  of  the  plate  or  from  a  fresh  transfer.  This  is  clearly  shown 
by  the  outer  dividing  lines  separating  the  stamps.  In  the  retouch  these 
are  not  joined  at  the  top,  and  there  is  a  trace  of  a  second  line  in  the  upper 
right  corner,  while  in  both  lower  angles  they  practically  touch  each  other. 
In  the  normal  stamp  the  line  above  to  the  right  has  the  appearance  of  being 


RETOUCHED  LITHOGRAPH  OF  THE  6  RAPPEN  OF  ZURICH.         9 

made  to  touch  by  an  additional  short  Hne,  and  in  the  lower  angles  leave  off 
abruptly.  Both  my  specimens  of  retouches  have  also  a  flaw  in  the  frame 
of  the  stamp  above  the  "  I "  of  "  Zurich,"  which  does  not  appear  in  the  like 
type  in  the  strips.  I  may  say,  en  passant,  that  these  division  lines  are  not 
without  Philatelic  interest,  and  that  they  vary  considerably  ;  e.g.,  specimens 
Ej  and  Eo  both  being  Type  I.,  which  have  double  compartment  lines  above, 
and  is  shown  further  by  the  frame  of  the  stamp  not  to  be  the  same  on  the 
sheet.  It  occurs  to  me  as  quite  feasible  to  reconstruct  the  sheet  by  the  aid 
of  these  lines  and  the  slight  lithographic  defects  in  the  stamps.] 

I  have  also  another  specimen  of  Type  III.  (Illustration  D),  but  with  the 
vertical  background  showing  a  defective  patch  in  the  same  position  as  in 
the  first-mentioned  stamp.  It  is,  however,  less  conspicuous,  although  on 
the  line  beneath  the  word  "  Zurich "  has  exactly  the  appearance  previously 
alluded  to.  From  the  shakiness  of  some  of  the  lines  and  the  thickness  of 
some  of  the  strokes  I  concluded  that  they  had  been  retouched,  though  in  a 
less  decided  manner.  I  think  it  probable  that  other  such  varieties  exist, 
and  hope  that  the  publication  of  these  notes  may  lead  to  further  discoveries. 
I  do  not  of  course  contend  that  these  varieties  are  of  an  important  nature, 
or  that  they  merit  collection  by  any  but  the  specialist.  To  the  latter, 
however,  nothing  can  well  be  too  minute  in  order  to  make  his  collection 
scientifically  complete,  and  it  is  these  colleagues  alone  who  will  find  any 
interest  in  this  short  paper. 

I  may  add  in  conclusion,  and  as  showing  that  in  studying  our  stamps 
something  new  or  interesting  will  always  be  found,  that  while  examining 
these  6  rappens,  I  have  been  led  to  note  other  and  still  smaller  variations  that 
occur  in  the  sheets,  owing  doubtless  to  the  reduplication  of  the  original  dies. 
White  spots  will  be  found  (Illustrations  E)  in  various  positions,  while  breaks 
in  the  outer  black  line  and  those  dividing  the  stamps  are  of  frequent 
occurrence.  In  some  cases  the  lower  angles  of  the  outer  frame  are  quite 
defective,  and  numerous  other  minute  deviations  can  be  ascertained  by  a 
close  search.  I  should  like  further  to  call  attention  to  the  marked  gradation 
of  printing  in  the  specimens  now  submitted,  varying  from  an  indistinct  grey 
to  a  sharp  and  clear  black.  I  should  add  that  this  note  has  been  written  at 
quite  short  notice,  and  appearing,  therefore,  with  all  its  imperfections  on  its 
head,  craves  your  kind  indulgence  and  friendly  criticism. 

[I  have  added  a  few  alterations  made  since  in  studying  further  specimens, 
but  I  feel  that  this  is  an  excellent  opening  for  further  research  upon  these 
stamps.— M.  P.  C.]. 


[       lo      ] 


lljilatelix  ^oIjcs. 


Note.  —  The  co-operation  of  Philatelists  is  invited  in  order  to  make  this  column  oj  a  varied 

and  interesting^  nature. 


THE  CAPE   OF  GOOD  HOPE  PROVISIONALS  OF  1861. 

E  are  indebted  to  Mr.  G.  Johnson,  B.A.,  the  indefatigable  Hon.  Sec. 
of  the  Birmingham  Philatehc  Society,  for  notes  of  an  apparently 
very  interesting  paper,  read  by  him  before  that  body  on  the  7th  of  this 
month.  Mr.  Johnson  would  seem  to  have  studied  his  subject  at  considerable 
length,  as  his  notes  not  only  embody  all  the  recent  and  best  information — 
as  embodied  in  the  London  Philatelic  Society's  work  and  Captain  Norris 
Newman's  paper  {London  Philatelist  for  Sept.,  1896,  p.  247-263) — but  also 
includes  evidence  of  information  and  research  independently  of  these 
authorities.  We  are  indebted  to  our  correspondent  for  the  correction  of  a 
small  but  apparent  misprint.  On  the  last  line  of  page  250,  in  the  September 
issue  of  this  Journal  already  referred  to,  the  dimensions  of  the  sheet  of 
Provisional  triangulars  are  given  as  "  10^x4,"  and,  as  Mr.  Johnson  says,  this 
is  evidently  a  misprint  for  "  7,"  and  averaging  the  spacing  and  numbers 
of  stamps,  as  given  by  Captain  Newman,  would  allow  for  a  margin  to  the 
sheet  of  nearly  three-quarters  of  an  inch.  It  appears  that  of  the  id.  385 
to  400  sheets  were  printed,  and  200  to  240  sheets  of  the  4d.  From  these 
24,660  stamps  of  the  id.  were  issued,  and  12,840  4d.  stamps.  "Thus,  if  the 
error  was  not  rectified,  there  could  have  been  some  201  id.  errors,  and 
386  4d." 

Mr.  Johnson's  arithmetic  is  no  doubt  faultless,  but  we  can  hardly  believe 
that  these  errors  are  so  rare  as  this  would  indicate ;  and,  indeed.  Captain 
Newman  distinctly  states  in  his  previously-cited  article  "  that  there  is  nothing 
to  show  what  quantity  was  printed  by  Saul  Soloman  and  Co.,  or  actually 
delivered  by  them  to  the  authorities."  In  the  early  sixties  these  errors,  pace 
Mr.  E.  Stanley  Gibbons,  were  received  in  quite  a  profusion,  and  we  believe 
were  quoted  at  a  dozen  rate  of  42s. !  They  were  also  in  the  hands  of  Messrs. 
Young  and  Stockall,  of  Liverpool,  and  M.  Moens  doubtless  had  them.  The 
number  of  copies  even  now  known  must  be  large,  and  we  think  it  therefore 
clear  that  a  far  larger  number  of  sheets  than  that  above  cited  must  have 
been  printed  and  issued. 

Mr.  Johnson's  paper  also  supplements  the  information  contained  in 
Captain  Norris  Newman's  paper,  by  completing  the  author's  evident  intent 
therein,  as  to  the  position  of  the  errors  on  the  sheet  (see  London  Philatelist, 
1896,  p.  251).  The  information  subsequently  received  by  Mr.  Johnson 
enables  us  to  round  off  this  corner,  and  we  are  indebted  to  that  gentleman 
for  the  accompanying  sketches,  which  most  satisfactorily  locate  the  exact 


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PHILATELIC  NOTES. 


II 


position  of  these  two  celebrated  "  Woodblock  errors  " — to  give  them  their 
time-honoured  appellation. 

Rough  sketch  of  sheet  of  Woodblock  Reprint,  showing  blank  spaces  caused  by  removal  of 

error  and  broken  stereotype. 
Whole  sheet,  including  margin,  \o\  x  7.     Margin,  |  of  an  inch  all  round. 

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Rough  sketch  of  Woodblock  Reprint,  showing  blank  space  caused  by  removal  of  the  error. 

Size,  etc.,  same  as  id. 


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Mr.  Johnson's  paper  contained  beyond  this  a  vast  amount  of  information 
on  the  general  Issues  of  the  Cape,  and  he  and  his  Society  are  to  be  con- 
gratulated upon  the  success  of  his  efforts. 


ANOTHER  ''FAKE"  OF  THE  FIRST  ISSUE  OF  FRANCE. 


HE  word  "fake"  is  not  assuredly  des  plus  elegants,  but  we  know  no 
other  expression  that  conveys  its  equivalent — the  surreptitious  and 
delusive  treatment  of  a  stamp — so  briefly  or  succinctly.  With  regard  to  the 
tete-beche  incidents  lately  described  in  this  Journal  and  the  following,  the 
stamps  have  indeed  been  subject  to  "  faking "  of  the  first  order.     We  are 


12  PHILATELIC  NOTES. 

indebted  to  the  Timbre-Poste  for  the  intimation,  which  again  affects  one 
of  the  values  of  1849 — the  15  c,  green.  It  is  well  known  that  the  stamp 
is  common  as  a  reprint  and  decidedly  scarce  in  unused  condition.  In 
our  opinion  mint  copies  in  undoubted  shades  are  among  the  most  under- 
appreciated European  stamps.  The  aim  of  the  present  swindle  is  to  unite 
with  the  common  verdure  of  the  reprint  the  tone  of  colour  and  the  gum 
of  age  of  the  original.  In  order  to  successfully  accomplish  this  the  following 
recipe  was  followed  : — Take  a  reprint,  gently  soak  it  with  a  chemical  that 
will  discharge  the  bluish  appearance  of  the  paper,  and  leave  the  hue  of 
the  stamp  a  more  yellowish  green ;  carefully  coat  the  back  with  "  original " 
gum,  place  it  in  an  oven — to  crackle  the  gum — bake  carefully  and  slowly, 
and  when  well  browned,  serve  to  order — the  sauce  being  added !  We 
fear  that  a  good  many  of  these  stamps  have  lately  deceived  collectors. 
Pairs  unused  of  the  1 5  c.  were  "  bolts  from  the  blue,"  and  they  have  lately 
been  comparatively  frequent.  We  hear  also  from  M.  Moens  that  the  I  franc 
has  been  changed  to  vermilion  to  make  it  more  valuable  (?). 


DISCOVERIES. 
RITISH  Guiana. — We  have  been  favoured  by  Mr.  Allen  H.  Stamford 
with  the  sight  of  a  variety  of  surcharge  that  has  hitherto  escaped 
attention.  The  specimens  furnished  to  us  consist  of  a  strip  of  three 
stamps  of  the  well-known  1889  issue,  mauve,  surcharged  in  black,  "Inland 
Revenue  4  cents."  In  the  right-hand  stamp  the  figure  4  is  of  a  distinct 
form  from  the  others.  The  difference  consists  mainly  in  the  wider  and 
longer  opening  of  the  upper  portion  of  the  figure.  In  the  normal  variety 
the  distance  from  the  top  of  the  4  to  the  upper  edge  of  the  horizontal 
stroke  is  barely  \\  mm.,  and  in  Mr.  Stamford's  specimen  it  is  2  mm., 
the  whole  figure  in  the  latter  being  fully  \  mm.  longer,  and  projecting 
distinctly  below  the  word  "  cents."  In  the  normal  variety  the  characters  of 
"  four  cents  "  are  all  in  a  line,  and  the  figure  moreover  is  a  trifle  heavier.  We 
have  since  been  enabled,  through  Messrs.  Stanley  Gibbons,  Limited,  to 
inspect  some  sheets,  and  find  that  this  variety  occurs  throughout  the  sheet, 
being  on  the  third  stamp  from  the  left  on  each  row.  It  is  curious  that, 
with  a  plentiful  stamp  such  as  this,  this  variation  should  have  remained 
unnoticed,  and  our  correspondent,  who  we  understand  is  a  recent  accession 
to  the  ranks  of  Philately,  is  to  be  congratulated  upon  his  powers  of  Philatelic 
observation. 

Great  Britain. — We  have  been  shown  by  Mr.  W.  Morley  a  very  fine 
unused  specimen  of  Plate  2  of  the  2id.,  of  a  distinct  bleitte  tone  of  paper, 
apparently  precisely  similar  to  those  that  are  frequently  met  with  in  Plate  i. 
The  existence  of  this  variety  was  not  unknown,  although  this  is  the  first 
specimen  that  we  have  seen,  and  we  refer  to  it  in  the  hope  that  some  of 
our  readers  may  give  us  more  information.  In  his  last  catalogue  Mr. 
H.  L.  Ewen  says  that  "  Plates  2  and  3  are  said  to  have  been  issued  on 
bluish  paper,  but  no  regular  issue  was  ever  made."  We  should  ourselves  be 
glad  to  know  how  far  blueness  of  paper  is  divisible  into  the  two  stages — 
original  birth  or  accidental  subsequent  experiences. 


[      '3      ] 


tftcasinnal  |toles. 


THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION  GUARANTEES. 

E  have  good  reason  to  believe  that  a  number  of  responses  have  already 
been  received  in  answer  to  the  circular  sent  out  by  the  Exhibition 
Committee,  inviting  guarantees  or  donations  towards  any  possible  deficit 
in  the  final  balance-sheet  of  the  undertaking.  There  must,  however,  still 
be  many  well-known  names  that  do  not  figure  in  the  list,  and  we  venture 
to  remind  all  those  who  have  hitherto  deferred  their  replies,  that  the 
Committee,  in  the  best  interests  of  all  concerned,  are  most  desirous  that  the 
Guarantee  List  should  embrace  not  only  the  leaders,  but  a  goodly  proportion 
of  the  rank  and  file  of  Philately.  From  our  own  point  of  view  and  expecta- 
tions, we  see  no  reason  to  apprehend  any  deficit,  while  as  stated,  should  any 
profit  be  made,  a  bonus  pro  rata  would  accrue  to  all  guarantors.  Beyond 
this  only  25  per  cent,  of  the  amount  guaranteed  is  now  called  up  to  cover 
disbursements  between  now  and  the  period  of  opening — hence  the  financial 
call  is  extremely  moderate.  All  concerned  in  Philately,  dealers  or  collectors, 
should  recollect  that  the  aim  and  object  of  this  Exhibition  is  to  popularise 
and  consolidate  the  fashion  of  stamp  collecting,  and  that  their  interest  in  the 
success  of  the  venture  is  in  exact  proportion  to  the  value  they  ascribe  to  their 
Philatelic  possessions.  All  communications,  however,  should  be  addressed  to 
Mr.  J.  A.  Tilleard,  4,  Lombard  Court,  London,  E.C. 


OFFICIAL  REISSUES— U.S. 


N  the  New  York  Notes  of  MekeeVs  Weekly  Stamp  News,  "  Iberius,"  a 
writer  who  is  always  well  posted  on  matters  Philatelic,  announces  the 
reissue  of  the  obsolete  periodical  stamps.  We  append  his  description,  and 
cannot  but  express  our  hearty  concurrence  with  his  remarks  thereon.  "  Sets 
of  U.S.  periodical  stamps,  one  cent  to  sixty  dollars,  of  the  old  types  and 
values,  printed  by  the  Bureau  of  Engraving,  have  been  placed  on  the  market 
by  a  syndicate  of  dealers  who  undertake  to  guarantee  that  only  50  sets  have 
been  printed.  The  price  asked  of  collectors  is  but  $125  a  set  for  stamps  of 
the  face  value  of  about  $205 ;  and  it  is  one  of  the  mysteries  of  that  mysterious 
and  incomprehensible  Bureau  that  such  special  issues,  apparently  without 
benefit  to  the  U.S.  Treasury,  should  be  permitted  to  be  made  by  the  P.O. 
officials.  The  set  will  probably  be  catalogued  ;  in  fact,  some  of  the  small 
values  have  been  known,  and  are  catalogued  already  as  printed  by  the  Bureau ; 
but  whether  the  guarantee  of  dealers,  here  or  in  Washington,  is  worthy  of 
consideration  is  a  question  which  I  leave  to  the  discriminating  care  of  would- 
be  buyers.     It  would  be  useless  to  enlarge  at  this  juncture  upon  the  peculiar 


14  OCCASIONAL  NOTES. 

and  rather  unsavoury  methods  of  Bureau  and  postal  officials  who  pretend  to 
despise  collectors  and  stamp  collecting,  on  the  one  hand,  but  are  ever  ready- 
to  make  an  honest  (?)  dollar  (in  league  with  some  intermediate  dealer)  out  of 
stamp  collectors." 


SWITZERLAND,  A  LA  CENTENNIAL. 
NE  of  our  Continental  contemporaries,  the  Philatelic  Helvetique,  has 
been  dilating  upon  a  probable  new  issue  of  stamps  for  the  Helvetian 
Republic,  similar  to  the  U.S.  Centennials,  that  shall  embrace  patriotic 
subjects  like  the  Lion  of  Lucerne,  William  Tell's  chapel,  the  GriitH,  etc. 
In  view  of  the  staid  postal  demeanour  of  the  little  Republic,  and  the  great 
cost  of  production,  we  should  attach  but  scant  credit  to  the  news.  A  number 
of  essays,  including  some  with  a  view  of  the  well-known  and  beautiful  Griitli 
on  the  Lake  of  Lucerne,  were  on  view  at  the  recent  Geneva  Exhibition  ; 
but  these  have  been  known  since  1882.  A  really  beautiful  issue  of  stamps 
appropriate  to  Heh'etian  scenery  would  cause  a  veritable  Philatelic  furore, 
and  if  they  were  permanent  would  be  heartily  welcomed  by  all  classes. 


THE  ITALIAN  POSTAL  MUSEUM. 

E  are  enabled  to  make  an  announcement  that  will  be  generally 
received  with  pleasure,  and  especially  so  by  all  those  collectors  who 
take  an  interest  in  the  stamps  of  the  Italian  Duchies  and  Kingdom.  It 
appears  that  there  has  existed  for  some  considerable  period  an  embryonic 
Postal  Museum,  which  has  accumulated  a  variety  of  effects  connected  with 
the  Postal  Service,  and  a  certain  number  of  stamps.  Little  attention  has 
been,  however,  devoted  to  it,  and  there  has  been  practically  no  control 
exercised  as  to  its  guardianship  or  maintenance,  with  the  consequent  result 
that  it  has  much  suffered  thereby,  and  is  in  a  chaotic  state  of  confusion. 
The  Hercules  to  cleanse  this  Augean  stable,  selected  by  His  Excellency 
the  Minister  of  Posts  and  Telegraphs  for  the  Italian  Kingdom,  is  our 
esteemed  contributor  and  friend  Dr.  Emilio  Diena,  of  Modena.  It  is  quite 
superfluous  to  comment  upon  the  excellency  of  the  choice.  Dr.  Diena  is 
the  doyen  of  Italian  Philately,  and  to  the  learned  and  courteous  author  of 
The  Stamps  of  Modena  is  most  properly  consigned  the  onerous  task 
of  rehabilitating  the  Postal  collection  of  his  country.  We  understand  that 
in  any  case  the  duties  involved  will  spread  over  many  months;  but  the 
future  tenancy  of  the  curatorship  is,  as  yet,  undetermined.  We  can  only 
respectfully  impress  upon  the  Italian  Government  the  prime  necessity, 
not  only  of  setting  its  Philatelic  home  in  order,  but  of  keeping  it  so  for 
the  future,  by  the  appointment  of  a  curator,  as  in  the  cases  of  the  British 
and  Berlin  Postal  Museums.  The  laxity  that  has  allowed  the  selling  of 
dies,  remainders  of  stamps,  reprints,  and  "waste"  stamps,  coupled  with 
the  immunity  allowed  to  unscrupulous  forgers,  presents  a  record  that  is 
a  disgrace  to  any  civilised  country — not  to  say  one  of  the  Great  Powers 
of  Europe. 


OCCASIONAL  NOTES.  15 

A   NEW  SPANISH  PHILATELIC  PAPER. 

HE  evidences  of  a  lively  and  an  abiding  Philatelic  faith  have  not  been 
so  numerous  in  the  Peninsula  but  that  we  can  cordially  welcome  the 
latest  accession  to  the  ranks  of  our  contemporaries.  The  new  venture  is 
entitled  Madrid  Filatelico,  and  is  issued  by  the  proprietor,  Senor  Miguel 
G^lvez  Jimenez,  Cruz  No.  i,  Madrid.  Embellished  with  a  picturesque  and 
artistic  cover,  the  journal  is  well  printed,  and  contains  illustrated  lists  of  new 
issues  and  other  matter,  while  its  advertising  columns  bespeak  an  unusually 
liberal  support.  We  shall  be  gratified  to  see  a  good  beginning  well 
continued. 


S 


PRESENTATIONS    TO    THE    '' TAP  LING    COLLECTION." 

E  have  much  pleasure  in  announcing  the  following  list  of  stamps  that 
have  been  donated  to  the  National  Collection  : — 

Antioquia. — Unused  errors  of  colour  of  the  1889  issue;  i  c,  black  on 
yellow;  2|  c,  black  on  green;   10  c,  black  on  rose — Mr.  T.  Ridpath. 

Bahamas. — An  unused  specimen  of  the  provisional  4d.  on  6d.,  issue  May, 
1883,  with  surcharge  in  larger  capitals  than  the  ordinary  variety — Mr.  T. 
Ridpath. 

Gambia. — A  used  specimen  of  the  4d.,  brown,  watermarked  "  Crown 
CC,"  upright— Mr.  J.  A.  Tilleard. 

Great  Britain. — An  unused  pair  of  the  current  3d.,  printed  on  deep 
yellow  paper — Mr.  G.  Campbell. 

Several  stamped  telegraph  forms — Major  E.  B.  Evans,  R.A. 

An  unused  specimen  of  the  3d.,  perforated  12,  Electric  Telegraph  Co.'s 
stamp,  issue  1861,  for  franking  messages  to  the  Continent — -Mr.  S.  Bostock. 

An  unused  copy  of  the  2s.  6d.  British  and  Irish  Magnetic  Telegraph 
Co.'s  stamp,  with  black  control  number,  perforated  13 — The  late  Earl  of 
Kingston. 

Several  proofs  and  essays — Herr  P.  von  Ferrary. 

Nicaragua. — Issue  1893,  5  c,  grey,  official,  with  inverted  surcharge- 
Messrs.  Brown  and  Skipton. 

Queensland. — An  unused  pair  of  the  id.,  issue  1895,  on  unwater- 
marked  paper,  with  burelc  band  ;  6d.,  issue  1883,  with  long  "  P  "  to  "  Pence," 
used,  on  entire  envelope.  Unused  pair,  is.,  on  thick  Beer  Duty  paper,  wmk. 
Large  Crown  over  "  O."  Unused  block  of  four  of  each  of  the  following : 
id.,  with  burele  band  ;  id.  and  2d.,  on  thick  Beer  Duty  paper,  wmk.  Large 
Crown  over  "  Q  "  ;  id.,  head  with  white  background,  wmk.  Crown  over  "  O," 
thin  paper.  Six  unused  |d.,  wmk.  Crown  over  "  Q,"  thin  paper ;  six  unused 
|d.,  on  thick  paper,  with  burele  band ;  and  six  unused  |d.,  on  thick  Beer  Duty 
paper,  wmk.  Large  Crown  over  "  Q  " — Mr.  O.  Firth. 

SlAM. — Vertical  pair  of  2  atts.  in  small  type  on  64  a.,  with  the  surcharge 
printed  on  the  back  of  the  upper  stamp,  as  well  as  on  the  face — Messrs. 
Brown  and   Skipton. 


i6 


OCCASIONAL  NOTES. 


CANADIAN  AND  DOMINION  PHILATELIC  ASSOCIATION. 
E   have  been  requested  by  Mr.  Ernest  F.  Wiirtele,  President  of  the 
Canadian  Philatelic  Association,  to  pubh'sh  the  following  circular  in 
the  London  Philatelist,  in  order  to  advise  our  readers  of  the  matter  therein 
referred  to,  and  which  will  be  read  with  due  interest : — 


Canadian  Philatelic  Association. 


Dominion  Philatelic  Association, 


AMALGAMATION. 
Special    General    Meeting. 

The  question  of  the  amalgamation  of  the  two  Canadian  Philatelic  Associations, 
in  the  general  interests  of  Philately,  having  reached  that  stage  which  demands  that  it 
be  taken  into  consideration  by  the  Members  of  the  two  Associations,  we  have  the 
honour  of  drawing  your  attention  to  the  following  proposed  basis  for  such  an  under- 
taking, and  at  the  same  time  would  request  all  those  who  are  unable  to  attend  the 
Special  General  Meetings  to  communicate  their  views  in  writing  to  the  respective 
Presidents  with  as  little  delay  as  possible. 

The  Meetings  will  be  held  in  the  Cities  mentioned  herewith,  and  at  the  places 
stated : — 


Canadian  Philatelic  Association. 
MONTREAL. 
Rooms  of  the  Montreal  Philatelic  Associ- 
ation,   Chateau    de     Ramezay    Building, 
3  P-m. 


Notre-Dame  Street. 


Dominion  Philatelic  Association. 
TORONTO. 
Office   of  Walter   McMahon,   Esq.,  Vonge 
Street,  Arcade.     2  p.m. 


Both  Meetings  to  be  held  on  the  28th  of  January,  1897. 

Basis   for   Proposed   Amalgamation. 

I  St.  That  the  Canadian  and  Dominion  Philatelic  Associations  amalgamate  for  the 
general  interests  of  Philately  in  Canada,  under  the  name  of  the  Dominion  of 
Canada  Philatelic  Association,  with  effect  from  the  ist  of  January,  1897. 

2nd.  That  the  Annual  Subscription  be  $0-50  per  annum,  with  an  entrance  fee  for 
new  Members  of  )|o-5o. 

3rd.  That  both  Associations  nominate  one  or  more  names  for  each  of  the  following 
Offices : — President,  Vice-President,  Secretary-Treasurer,  Exchange  Superin- 
tendent, Librarian,  Counterfeit  Detector,  and  three  names  for  Trustees. 

4th.    That  both  Associations  nominate  one  paper  for  Official  Organ. 

5th.  That  each  Meeting  authorize  its  President  to  enter  into  negotiations  with  the 
other  to  complete  the  proposed  amalgamation  upon  the  terms  submitted 
herein,  or  otherwise,  as  desired. 

6th.    That  upon  a  satisfactory  arrangement  of  this  question,  the  names  nominated  by 
both  Associations  be  sent  to  the  Members  for  Election  purposes  in  connection 
with  the  amalgamated  Association,  as  well  as  the  Official  Organs. 
Anticipating  that  the  proposed  change  will  meet  with  favour,  and  that  we  will  hear 

from  those  who  are  unable  to  attend  the  Meetings, 

We  remain,  yours  in  Philately, 

ERNEST  F.  WURTELE,  President, 

Catmdian  Philatelic  Associatioti,  Quebec, 

I.  E.  WELDON,  President, 


\st  Lanuary,  1897, 


Dominion  Philntelic  Association,  157,  Co  rar.i  St. 
East,  Toronto, 


[       17      J 


§lebicit)s. 


STANLEY  GIBBONS'  CATALOGUE,  PART  I.* 

^lii-p-^F^ii!^/  HE  second  edition  of  this  firm's  Catalogue,  since  it  came 
into  serious  competition  with  latter-day  Philatelic  require- 
ment, is  a  very  great  improvement  upon  its  predecessor. 
It  is  now  printed  upon  vastly  superior  and  indeed  excellent 
paper ;  the  type,  if  not  large,  is  remarkably  clear,  and  this 
edition  is  suitably  bound.  As  regards  printing  and  general 
appearance,  it  reflects  great  credit  to  Messrs.  Brendon  and  Son,  of  Plymouth 
(the  printers  of  this  Journal).  The  illustrations,  except  those  since  added, 
are  as  in  the  last  issue — only  worse.  Such  specimens  as  Sierra  Leone, 
St.  Lucia,  or  New  Zealand  (No.  20),  are  a  disfigurement  to  the  book. 
The  most  important  improvement  has  been  the  separate  illustration  of 
all  the  surcharges,  and  we  must  absolutely  reverse  our  last  remarks  as 
regards  these.  The  greatest  care  and  trouble  have  obviously  been  taken 
to  have  exact  representations  made  of  these.  This  is  a  great  boon  to 
all  stamp  students,  and  would  alone  cover  a  far  greater  multitude  of  sins 
than  is  included  beneath  the  red  cover  of  this  price  list.  Among  the  latter, 
however,  we  consider  that  forty  pages  of  introductory  matter  are  far  too 
heavy,  and  all  the  polyglot  business  instructions  of  the  firm  "  never  would 
be  missed."  We  also  consider  that  the  price  of  this  Catalogue,  5/-,  when 
complete  (Parts  II.  and  III.,  i.e.,  the  new  British  adhesives,  and  the 
"Entires"  respectively),  is  not  really  justified.  The  principal  catalogues 
of  the  world  are  now  published  at  prices  varying  from  is.  to  2s.  ;  and 
excellent  as  is  the  work  under  review,  we  think  it  a  mistake,  in  the 
interests  of  the  vendors  and  the  Philatelic  public,  to  have  again  raised 
the  price.  Doubtless  the  expenses  of  production  are  greater,  but  one-fourth 
of  the  contents  of  Part  I.  is  devoted  to  advertisements  or  announcements 
made  in  the  interests  of  the  publishers.  These  latter  will  probably  be 
repeated  in  the  subsequent  parts,  and  must  add  materially  to  the  expense 
without  benefiting  the  reader. 

Although  we  fully  acknowledge  the  literary  excellence  of  the  work,  it  is 
avowedly  a  Trade  Catalogue,  as  those  of  its  rivals,  and  issued,  as  stated  in  the 
preface,  to  indicate  the  "  actual  price  at  which  the  stamps  can  be  supplied 
by  Messrs.  Stanley  Gibbons,  Limited."  Alike  in  the  best  interests  of  the 
publishers  and  the  public,  the  lowest  possible  price  commensurate  with  the 
cost  of  production  should  be  maintained.  It  must,  however,  be  conceded 
that  Messrs.  Stanley  Gibbons  are  content  with  a  truly  moderate  profit  on 
their  wares,  as  the  ^^5  Great  Britain  unused  is  quoted  at  ioo/3d. — an 
addition  to  the  face  value  that,  from  a  collector's  point  of  view,  is  perfectly 

*  Priced  Catalogue  of  I  he  Stamps  of  the  Rritish  Empire  (1897).  Stanley  Gibbons,  Limited,  391, 
Strand.  London, 


i8  REVIEWS. 

in  order  and  not  excessive !  There  are  a  few  other  "  vagaries,"  such  as 
misprints  of  type,  errors  in  prices  quoted,  or  omissions — as  the  15  c.  current 
Canada — but  in  general  the  Catalogue  is  concise,  comprehensive,  and 
accurate.  There  is  no  occasion  to  specify  any  colony.  It  sufifices  to  say 
that  with  the  aid  of  many  advanced  and  able  Philatelists  the  whole  has 
been  rewritten,  by  the  side  of  the  stamps  themselves,  with  numerous 
additions  and  emendations,  while  a  great  amount  of  information  has  been 
added  in  the  notes  after  the  Issues.  There  can  be  no  "  possible  doubt 
whatever"  but  that  the  1897  edition  constitutes  the  most  reliable  and 
accurate  existing  Price  Catalogue  of  the  Stamps  of  the  British  Empire. 
Floreant ! 

POSTAGE    STAMPS    AND    THEIR    COLLECTION.* 

This  is  one  of  the  now  numerous  and  excellent  series  of  Handbooks 
upon  every  imaginable  subject  published  by  Mr.  L.  Upcott  Gill,  of  the 
well-known  Bazaar,  Exchatige,  and  Mart.  The  very  numerous  illustrations 
and  the  general  "  get-up  "  of  the  book  are  beyond  praise ;  while  its  contents 
will  be  found  to  include  a  variety  of  notes  that  cannot  fail  to  be  of  interest 
to  the  beginner  or  moderately  advanced  collector.  A  relic  of  "  insular 
barbarism"  is  to  be  noted  in  the  defacement  of  the  illustrations  of  Colonial 
stamps,  forced  upon  the  publisher  by  the  recent  decision  in  the  Court 
of  Appeal  in  favour  of  the  Commissioner  of  Inland  Revenue.  The 
publishers  of  such  works  as  these  should  be  encouraged,  as  it  is  by  the 
dissemination  of  illustrated  knowledge  that  the  great  army  of  Philatelic 
detectives  is  created — and  no  Government  could  otherwise  possess  so  great 
a  safeguard  against  the  forgery  of  their  own  stamps. 

A  large  portion  of  the  work  is  occupied  by  a  list  of  "  Stamps  to  look 
for,"  which  is  of  doubtful  utility — "whether  to  the  beginner,  general 
collector,  or,  perhaps,  even  the  specialist";  and  we  cannot  refrain  from  the 
suggestion  that  the  author  would  have  been  well  advised  to  have  concentrated 
his  energies  in  the  endeavour  to  cater  for  one  of  these  classes  only. 

•  Postage  Stamps  and  theiy  Collection,  by  Oliver  Firih.  L.  Upcott  Gill,  170,  .Strand, 
London,    W.C. 


[   "J  1 


Sci^  Issues. 


NOTKS    OF    NEW^,    AND    VARIATIONS  OF   CURRENT,    ISSUES. 

(Varieties  of  Obsolete  Stamps,  and  Discoveries,  will  be  found  under  "Philatelic  Notes.") 

We  do  no/profess  to  ckroiiiiie  eveiythiiii^,  but,  with  the  kind  help  of  correspondents,  are  desirous  that 
all  the  important  novelties  may  be  included.  Speculative  stamps — i.e.  those  not  really  required  for 
postal  purposes — will  be  considered  on  their  merits,  and  Jubilee  issues  will  not  be  chronicled. 

Members  of  the  London  Philatelic  Society,  and  other  readers  generally,  are  invited  to  co-operate  with  us 
in  making  the  columns  as  interesting  as  possible.  Our  foreign  readers  can  especially  help  us  in 
this  direction,  by  sending  copies  of  any  official  documents  relative  to  changes  in  the  current  issues, 
or  early  intimatioti  of  any  netv  issue,  accompanied,  when  possible,  by  a  specimen  ;  such  information 
will  be  duly  credited  to  the  correspondent,  and,  if  desired,  the  specimen  promptly  returned. 
Address:  Editor  "London  Philatelist,"  Effingham  House,  Arundel  Street,  Strand, 
London,  W.C. 


BRITISH  EMPIRE, 

Cape  of  Good  Hope.  —  We  have  re- 
ceived the  halfpenny  stamp  from  Messrs. 
Whitfield   King  &    Co.,  printed    in    green, 

pert.   14.  AdlKsivc.     id.,  green. 

OUEENSL.VND. — Our  Australian  correspon- 
dent writes  that  the  next  values  to  be  tinkered 
will  have  the  numerals  in  all  four  corners 

Straits  Settlements.— A^^/zV^  S tales. - 
The  M.J.  gives  us  some  interesting  in- 
formation with  regard  to  the  stamps  in  use 
for  the  Native  States  mentioned  below. 

"Negri  Sembilan. — Only  the  3,  15,  25,  and 
50  cents  exist  at  the  Post-office,  and  in  future 
this  State  is  to  be  amalgamated  with  Sungei 
Ujong,  the  two  being  known  under  the  name 
Negri  Sembilan. 

"  Pahang. — The  3  cents  only. 

"Perak. — The  i,  2,  3,  5,  8,  10,  and  50  cents, 
and  I,  2,  and  5  dollars." 

Percik.  —  The  current  series  of  adhesives, 
with  head  of  tiger,  is  being  used  for  official 
purposes  with  a  surcharge  "  Service "  in 
black.  Messrs.  Whitfield  King  &  Co. 
send  us  the  5  c. 

Service  Adhesive. 
5  c,  lilac  and  mustard,  black  surcliarge. 

"■Sungei  Ujong. — The  3  cents  only. 

"  It  is  possible  that  full  sets  have  been 
issued  for  all  the  States,  but  other  values 
than  those  mentioned  above  have  not 
reached  the  States."— iJ/.  J. 

Tobago. — A  provisional  stamp  has  been 
made  by  surcharging  the  4d.  Revenue 
stamp  "^d."  "Postage"  in  two  lines,  the 
latter  surcharge  obliterating  the  original 
value.      Messrs.     Whitfield     King    &     Co., 


who  send  us  a  copy,  assure  us  that  they 
were  only  used  for  one  mail  on  December 
23rd,  none  being  sold  to  the  public  except 
on  presentation  of  letters  or  circulars  to 
be  posted. 

Adhesive.    Jd.  on  4d.,  lilac  and  red,  black  surcharge. 

Western  Australia.— Ze  T.-P.  informs 
us  that  the  threepence  post  card  has  been 
surcharged  i|d.  in  lilac. 

Fost  Card.     i^d.  on  3d.,  green,  lilac  surcharge. 

Zanzibar. — At  last  the  surcharging 
business  would  appear  to  be  terminated, 
the  long  talked-of  issue,  with  head  of 
Sultan,  palm  trees,  etc.,  having  made  its 
appearance.  A  copy  of  the  2id.  is  before 
us.  We  shall  illustrate  shortly,  and  only 
add  to  our  present  description  that  two 
flags  appear  above  the  central  oval  con- 
taining the  head  of  the  Sultan  (now  dead) ; 
these  flags  are  printed  in  red,  and  form  a 
pleasing  contrast  to  the  remainder  of  the 
design,  which,  in  the  case  of  the  value 
mentioned,  is  printed  in  blue.  The  perfora- 
tion is  14. 

Adhesive,     aid.,  blue  and  red. 

EUROPE. 

FK.VNCii. — Mekecfs  Weekly  announces  the 
issue,  or  perhaps  reissue  of  a  i  franc  Un- 
paid Letter  Stamp.  We  c(uoted  in  October 
last  the  decree  authorising  the  suppression 
of  this  and  the  60  c.  value,  and  the  present 
stamp  is  said  to  have  been  issued  just 
previous  to  the  suppression. 

Messrs.  Whitfield  King  &  Co.  write  that 
the  10  c.  post  card  and  the  15  c.  letter 
card  have  been  altered,  by  the  addition  of 
the   words  "  Republique  Francjaise "   above 


20 


NEW  ISSUES. 


the  inscriptions,  and  a  modification  of  the 
letter  M  at  the  commencement  of  the  address 
lines. 

Unpaid  Letter  Sta}np.     i  franc,  rose  on  carj/iine. 
Post  Card.     lo  c,  grey  on  greenish. 
Letter  Card.     15  c,  blue  an  grey. 

Monaco.— Z^  T.-P.  announces  the  decease 
of  the  75  c.  value. 

Sweden. — Two  new  values  reach  us  this 
month  in  the  type  with  head  of  King,  15 
and  25  ore.  The  20  ore  also  has  appeared 
in  a  bright  blue  shade,  and  the  10  ore 
official  stamp  is  now  printed  in  deep  rose- 
red. 

Adhesives.     15  ore,  pale  red-brown,  perf.  13. 
25    ,,    orange  „ 

20    ,,    bright  blue  ,, 

Official  Stamp.     10  ore,  deep  rose-red. 

Turkey.— We  learn  from  Le  T.-P.  that 
this  Empire  has  added  to  its  recent 
atrocities  the  offer  of  a  prize  of  200  francs 
to  the  artist  who  within  one  month  sends 
the  best  design  for  a  series  of  eight  stamps. 

AMERICA. 

Peru.— Messrs.  Whitfield  King  &  Co. 
send  us  the  i,  10,  and  50  c.  adhesives, 
surcharged  diagonally,  "  Gobierno,"  in  an 
oblong  frame,  the  surcharge  reading  upwards 
from  left  to  right. 

A  set  of  stamps  for  parcel  use  has  also 
been  issued.  They  are  of  large  square  size, 
with  a  numeral  in  the  centre,  "  Porte  de 
Conduccion "  above,  and  "  Centavo(s) " 
below,  all  enclosed  in  a  square  frame  of 
ruling  and  ornaments.  The  paper  is  white 
wove,  and  the  perforation  12. 

Adhesives.      i  c,  ultramarine,  black  surcharge. 
IOC,  orange  „  ,, 

50  c,  rose-red  ,,  ,, 

Parcel  Post  Stamps — 

1  c,  lilac. 

2  c,  yellow. 
5  c,  blue. 

10  c,  brown-lilac. 
20  c,  red. 
50  c,  green. 

OTHER  COUNTRIES. 
Liberia.— We  are  indebted  to  Mr.  H.  L. 
Hayman  for  specimens  of  a  new  issue.  The 
types  of  1892  have  been  used,  with  an 
additional  very  handsome  50  cent  stamp  ; 
but  the  values  have  been  changed  over,  and 
slight  alterations  introduced  into  the  frame- 
work    surrounding     the     central     designs, 


the  change  of  values  being,  as  we  under- 
stand, necessitated  by  the  admission  of  this 
country  to  the  Postal  Union.  There  will  be 
no  higher  denominations,  and  it  will  be 
noticed  that  from  5  c.  upwards  the  values 
have  all  been  modified. 

Adhesives.    i  c. ,  mauve. 

2  c,  bistre  and  black. 

5  c,  lake-brown  and  black. 
10  c,  orange  and  slate-blue. 
15  c,  slate. 
20  c,  red. 
25  c  ,  green. 
30  c,  slate-blue. 
50  c,  red-brown  and  black. 

The  watermark  is  as  before,  and  the 
perforation  15. 

Orange  Free  State.— Below  we  give 
illustrations  of  the  seven  varieties  of  the 
^d.  surcharge  recently  chronicled. 

o-d  V  ¥  ¥  ¥  ¥  ¥ 


£i 


Portuguese  Colonies.— ^;/^rrt.— We 
have  before  us  a  complete  set  of  adhesives 
in  the  current  Portugal  type,  the  same  being 
sent  us  by  Messrs.  Whitfield  King  &  Co. 

Adhesives,        2J  reis,  grey  and  black. 


5 

,    orange-brown  and  black. 

10 

,     emerald-green 

15 

,     brown 

20 

,     deep  lilac 

25 

,     deep  green 

50 

,    deep  blue 

75 

,    rose 

80 

,     lilac 

ICO 

,    deep  blue  and  black  on  azutc 

ISO 

,     brown  and  black 

on  lemon. 

200 

,     lilac  and  black  on  (p.Jlesh). 

300 

,     deep  blue  and  black  on /»«A. 

500 

,     black  and  red  on  azure. 

Funclial.  —  From  the  same  source  the 
stamps  for  this  Colony  described  under 
Angra. 

Pfor/a.— Messrs.  Whitfield  King  &  Co. 
send  us  the  same  series  of  adhesives  for  this 
Colony,  as  we  have  described  under  Angra. 

Ponta  Dclgada.  —  The  series  for  this 
Colony  is  to  hand  from  Messrs.  Whitfield 
King  &  Co.,  identical  with  that  described 
under  Angra. 


Transvaal. 
set : — 


-Le  T.-P.  adds  to  the  current 


Adhesives.     2  pence,  brown  and  greeo. 
3      ,,      violet  and  green. 
5      „      olive  and  green. 
5  shillings,  grey-blue. 


-*3-»:-:-K~x»-»»K» »- 


21 


l^ilatdic  Snrixttcs'  Ultrfings. 


THE   PHILATELIC   SOCIETY,   LONDON. 


Honorary  Pj esideut—Yi.'^.Yi.  The  Duke  of  Saxe-Coburi;  and  Gotha,  K.G.,  &c. 


Council  for  the  Year  1895  96 : 

President— Y{..^.Yi.  The  Duke  of  York,  K.G. 
Vice-President — M.   P.  Castle. 
Hon.  Secretary — ^J.  A.   TlI.LEARD.  I  Hon.  Assistant  Secretary — R.   Pearce. 

Hon.    Treasurer — C.   N.    Bines.  |  Librarian — T.   Maycock. 

E.  D.  Bacon.  I  E.  B.  Evans.  |         T.  Wickham  Jones. 

R.  Ehrenbach.  D.  Garth.  H.  R.  Oldfield. 


The  eighth  meeting  of  the  season  1896-97 
was  held  at  Effingham  House  on  Friday, 
the  iith  December,  1896,  at  7.30  p.m.  The 
following  members  were  in  attendance,  viz.  : 
Major  Evans,  and  Messrs.  E.  D.  Bacon,  A. 
R.  Barrett,  T.  W.  Hall,  R.  Meyer,  G.  B. 
Routledge,  R.  Pearce,  T.  Maycock,  Gordon 
Smith,  and  J.  A.  Tilleard. 

Major  Evans  having  taken  the  chair,  in 
the  absence  of  the  Vice-President,  the 
minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and 
confirmed. 

The  Secretary  reported  the  receipt  from 
Mr.  Ewen  of  his  album  of  British  stamps, 
and  from  Messrs.  Stanley  Gibbons,  Limited, 
of  a  card  with  illustrations  and  descriptions 
of  the  two  types  of  stamps  from  the  general 
Colonial  plates. 

Mr.  Bacon  read  a  letter  from  Mr.  Gibb, 
sending  for  inspection  by  members  attending 
the  meeting  a  10  cent  Canadian  envelope 
stamp  of  their  first  issue  printed  in  red. 
The  specimen  forwarded  has  apparently 
done  postal  duty,  and  is  probably  an  error 
printed  in  the  colour  of  the  5  cent  stamp. 

Major  Evans  then  read  a  further  portion 
of  his  paper  on  the  "  Stamps  of  Mauritius," 
dealing  chiefly  with  the  adhesive  stamps  and 
envelopes  supplied  by  Messrs.  De  la  Rue 
and  Co.,  down  to  the  end  of  the  unwater- 
marked  series. 

On  the  motion  of  Mr.  Tilleard,  seconded 
by  Mr.  Bacon,  the  thanks  of  the  meeting 
were  voted  to  Major  Evans  for  his  most 
interesting  paper ;  and  arrangements  were 
made  for  the  reading  of  the  concluding 
portion  of  the  paper  at  the  first  meeting  in 
the  new  year. 
* 


The  ninth  meeting  of  the  season  was  held 
at  Effingham  House  on  Friday,  the  i8th 
December,  1896,  at  7.30  p.m.,  the  following 
members  being  present,  viz.  :  Messrs.  M.  P. 
Castle,  E.  D.  Bacon,  H.  R.  Oldfield,  R. 
Ehrenbach,  R.  Meyer,  G.  B.  Routledge,  F. 
F.  Burghard,  T.  Maycock,  A.  R.  Barrett, 
C.  McNaughtan,  Gordon  Smith,  R.  Pearce, 
T.  W.  Hall,  J.  A.  Tilleard,  and  B.  D.  Knox. 
One  visitor  also  attended. 

The  chair  was  taken  by  the  Vice-Presi- 
dent, and  the  minutes  of  the  last  meeting 
were  read  and  confirmed. 

The  Secretary  read  a  letter  from  Mr.  Luff, 
acknowledging  the  receipt  of  the  books  given 
by  the  Society  for  the  library  of  the  New 
York  Club,  and  one  from  Mr.  D.  Montague 
Jacobs,  sending  specimens  for  the  Society  of 
some  of  the  values  of  the  Cape  stamps  over- 
printed for  use  in  British  South  Africa. 

The  Vice-President  having  referred  to  the 
loss  sustained  by  the  Society  and  Philately 
through  the  death  of  Mr.  Gilbert  Lockyer, 
moved  "  That  the  members  of  the  Philatelic 
Society,  London,  have  heard  with  very  great 
regret  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Gilbert  Lockyer, 
and  desire  to  express  their  sincere  sympathy 
with  Mrs.  Lockyer  in  her  affliction." 

The  resolution  was  seconded  by  Mr. 
Bacon,  and  duly  passed. 

Mr.  Hall  then  produced  for  inspection  by 
members  present  his  very  fine  collection 
of  the  stamps  of  Peru,  and  read  a  very 
interesting  series  of  notes  which  he  had 
prepared  in  reference  to  the  various  issues, 
and  the  intricate  subject  of  the  various 
surcharges  employed.  On  the  motion  of 
Mr.    Castle,   seconded    by   Mr.    Bacon,   the 


22 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


thanks  of  the  meeting  were  voted  to  Mr. 
Hall  for  affording  the  opportunity  of  ex- 
amining his  collection,  which  was  much 
admired,  and  for  the  carefully  prepared 
notes  which  he  had  read. 


The  tenth  meeting  of  the  season  was  held 
at  Effingham  House  on  Friday,  the  8th 
January,  1897,  at  7.30  p.m.  The  members 
in  attendance  were  Major  Evans,  Messrs. 
E.  D.  Bacon,  C.  N.  Biggs,  R.  Ehrenbach, 
R.  Meyer,  T.  Maycock,  A.  R.  Barrett,  C. 
McNaughtan,  E.  J.  Nankivell,  R.  Pearce, 
Gordon  Smith,  B.  D.  Knox,  G.  B.  Routledge, 
and  J.  A.  Tilleard. 

The  chair  was  taken  by  Major  Evans,  in 
the  absence  of  the  Vice-President,  and  the 
minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and 
confirmed. 

The  Secretary  read  a  letter  from  Mr.  C. 
Harrison,  resigning  his  membership,  and 
the  resignation  was  directed  to  be  accepted 
with  regret. 

A  letter  from  the  Vice-President  of  the 
French  Society,  in  regard  to  copies  of  this 
Society's  works  required  for  his  Society,  was 
also  read,  and  the  Secretary  was  directed  to 
ascertain  to  what  works  the  enquiry  related, 
and  to  endeavour  to  comply  with  the  request. 

Mr.  R.  Frentzel  and  Mr.  N.  H.  Withee, 
both  proposed  by  the  Secretary  and  seconded 
by  the  Assistant  Secretary ;  Mr.  J.  S. 
O'Meara,  proposed  by  Mr.  Donald  A.  King, 
and  seconded  by  Major  Evans ;  Prince 
Doria  Pamphilj,  proposed  by  M.  Pio 
Fabri,  and  seconded  by  Major  Evans ; 
and  Mr.  A.  H.  Stamford,  proposed  by  Mr. 
Firth,  and  seconded  by  Mr.  Beckwith,  were 
elected  members  of  the  Society. 

Major  Evans  then  read  the  concluding 
portion  of  his  paper  on  the  "  Stamps  of 
Mauritius,"  prepared  for  the  Society's  work 


on  the  Stamps  of  the  African  Colonies,  and 
the  very  hearty  thanks  of  the  meeting  were 
voted  to  him  for  his  most  interesting  paper, 
on  the  motion  of  Mr.  Biggs,  seconded  by 
Mr.  Bacon.         

The  eleventh  meeting  of  the  season  was 
held  at  Effingham  House  on  Friday,  the 
15th  January,  1897,  at  7.30  p.m.  The  follow- 
ing members  were  present,  in  addition  to 
one  visitor,  viz.  :    Messrs.  M.  P.  Castle,  E. 

D.  Bacon,  \V.  B.  Avery,  H.  R.  Oldfield,  R. 
Ehrenbach,  R.  Meyer,  W.  Silk,  G.  B.  Rout- 
ledge,  H.  Hetley,  C.  N.  Biggs,  T.  Maycock, 
A.  R.  Barrett,  E.  A.  Elliott,  C.  McNaughtan, 

E.  J.  Nankivell,  R.  Pearce,  Gordon  Smith,  J. 
A.  Tilleard,  and  B.  D.  Knox. 

The  chair  having  been  taken  by  the  Vice- 
President,  and  the  minutes  of  the  last  meeting 
read  and  confirmed,  a  discussion  arose  as  to 
the  hour  for  holding  of  meetings,  and  it  was 
determined  that  for  the  future  the  meetings 
should  commence  at  7.45  p.m.  punctually. 

Mr.  Gordon  Smith  then  produced,  for 
inspection  by  members  present,  his  fine 
collection  of  the  stamps  of  South  Australia, 
and  gave  a  very  clear  description  of  the 
various  issues.  In  dealing  with  the  question 
of  the  lod.  stamp,  he  explained  the  six  types 
of  the  surcharge,  and  his  reasons  for  adhering 
to  the  opinion  that  the  types  are  limited  to 
this  number,  a  view  which  was  entirely  con- 
curred in  by  the  members  attending  the 
meeting,  notwithstanding  the  theory  which 
has  been  recently  advanced  by  another 
collector  as  to  the  existence  of  a  larger 
number  of  types.  On  the  motion  of  Mr. 
Avery,  seconded  by  Mr.  Bacon,  a  very  hearty 
vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  to  Mr,  Gordon 
Smith  for  the  display  he  had  given,  and  for 
his  interesting  explanation  of  the  stamps 
shown. 


BIRMINGHAM    PHILATELIC   SOCIETY. 


President — W.  T.  WiLSON,  EsQ. 
Hon.  Sec.  and  Treas. — Mr.  G.  Johnson,   B.  A., 

208,  Birchfield  Road^  Birtningham. 


December  17th. — Display  :  U.S.A. 

Messrs.  Sallo  Epstein  (Transvaal),  C.  C. 
Morency  (Canada),  W.  M.  Thompson 
(N.S.W.),  A.  Schlachter  (U.S.A.),  were 
elected  members. 

Then  followed  the  display  of  the  stamps 


of  U.S.A.,  including  the  collections  of 
Messrs.  Pimm,  Stephenson,  and  Johnson, 
with  some  fine  selections  belonging  to  the 
President,  including  a  superb  set  of  current 
type  Engraver's  Proofs  from  the  matrix  dies, 
and  a  fine  lot  of  90  c.  of  First  Issue. 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'   MEETINGS. 


23 


;{:iS06 

8 

4^ 

2016 

6 

7 

489 

18 

oi 

The  December  packets  were  again  a 
record  far  in  advance  of  any  circulated  in 
this  or  any  other  Society.     The  totals  were  : 

"  A  "  Packet  (mixed) 

"B"      ,,        (Colonials). 

"C"       „        (foreign)      . 

£\oi2  13  o 
The  packets  for  the  whole  year  have 
amounted  to  ^{^28,230  9.f.  5;^/.,  without  count- 
ing any  "special"  sheets  sent  to  foreign 
members.  They  have  thus  formed  the  finest 
and  most  valuable  series  that  have  ever  been 
circulated.  What  is  still  more  remarkable, 
to  the  nervous  ones  who  talk  about  a  fall  in 
prices,  is  the  fact  that  at  no  time  in  the 
history  of  the  Society  have  sales  been  more 
satisfactory,  and  the  members  are  all  anxious 
for  even  still  more  valuable  lots. 


January  7th. —  Paper:  "Cape  of  Good 
Hope,"  by  G.  Johnson. 

Messrs.  R.  Dalton  (Bristol),  W.  A. 
Abraham  (British  Guiana),  T.  H.  Nicolle 
(N.S.W.),  J.  H.  Smyth  (N.S.W.),  Paul  de 
Smeth  (Belgium),  E.  H.  Atchley  (Bristol), 
Mario  Fires  M.  B.  de  Lima  (Portugal),  were 
unanimously  elected  members. 

Votes  of  thanks  were  given  to  Messrs. 
Stanley  Gibbons  for  their  Catalogue,  and  to 
Mr.  W.  C.  Stone  for  two  annual  numbers  of 
the  American  Philatelist. 

The  Hon.  Sec.  then  read  his  paper  on  the 
"  Stamps  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope." 

Dates,  etc.,  taken  from  London  Society's 
Africa,  Part  L  Particulars  re  Wood  Block 
Reprint  were  given  by  Captain  C.  Norris 
Newman. 


THE  BRADFORD  PHILATELIC  SOCIETY. 


The  December  meeting  of  this  Society  was 
held  on  the  ist  of  that  month,  Mr.  George 
Park  occupying  the  chair.  The  formal 
business  of  the  meeting  having  been  dis- 
posed of,  Mr.  H.  W.  Atkinson  gave  a 
paper  on  the  "  Stamps  of  Uruguay,"  which 
was  illustrated  with  a  very  nice  collection 
of  this  country.  Mr.  Atkinson,  at  the  out- 
set,   stated    the    great    difficulty    he    had 


experienced  in  getting  any  information 
regarding  the  postage  issues  of  this  country. 
He,  however,  imparted  a  good  deal  of  in- 
formation to  the  members  present,  and  it 
was  the  universal  impression  that  Uruguay 
deserved  more  attention  than  it  had  hitherto 
received  at  the  hands  of  Philatelists. 


W. 

Piccadilly,  Bradford. 


H.   SCOTT, 

Hoti.  Secretary. 


BRIGHTON  AND  SUSSEX  PHILATELIC  SOCIETY. 


Hon.  President — Baron  de  Worms. 
President — M.   P.  Castle. 
Acting  Hon.   Secretary — W.  T.  Willett,  West  House,   Brighton. 


The  first  meeting  of  the  season  1896-97 
was  held  at  Markwell's  Hotel,  Brighton,  on 
Monday,  October  19th,  at  8.15  p.m.  Six 
members  were  present,  Mr.  Stafford  Smith 
in  the  chair.  After  the  minutes  of  the 
previous  meeting  had  been  read  and  con- 
firmed, the  librarian  acknowledged  the 
receipt  of  several  magazines,  and  votes  of 
thanks  to  the  donors  were  passed.  The 
programme  for  the  season  was  commenced 
and  adjourned  to  the  next  meeting. 


The  second  meeting  was  held  on  Tuesday, 
November  3rd.  Nine  members  attended, 
the  President  in  the  chair.  The  minutes  of 
the  previous  meeting  having  been  read  and 
confirmed,  letters  were  read  from  members 
saying  that  it  would  be  more  convenient  to 


them  if  meetings  were  held  on  Tuesdays 
instead  of  Mondays,  and  after  a  short 
discussion  this  was  decided  upon. 

The  following  resolution  was  put  to  the 
meeting  and  carried  nem.  con. : — "  That  the 
last  meeting  of  the  season  shall  be  consti- 
tuted the  Annual  General  Meeting."  The 
programme  for  the  season  was  then  pro- 
ceeded with  and  completed. 


The  third  meeting  was  held  on  Tuesday, 
November  17th.  Seven  members  were 
present,  the  President  in  the  chair.  After 
the  minutes  of  the  previous  meeting  had 
been  read  and  confirmed,  the  President  read 
some  notes  on  the  stamps  of  France,  illus- 
trated by  his  superb  collection  of  this  country. 
Among  the  most  prominent  stamps  exhibited 


24 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


may  be  mentioned  —  1849  Republic,  six 
specimens  of  the  i  fr.,  orange,  from  pale 
vermilion  to  Venetian  red,  15  c.  green,  a 
page  of  shades,  including  a  strip  of  three 
and  all  the  other  values  of  the  first  issue 
in  many  shades,  all  being  unused.  The 
Presidency  and  imperforate  Empire  sets 
were  also  very  strong,  including  blocks,  &c., 
of  all  values  in  mint  condition.  The  ieie- 
beches  of  the  early  issues  were  also  all  shown, 
while  in  the  later  series  of  the  Empire  and 
the  Bordeaux  Republic  every  known  shade 
was  exhibited. 


The  fourth  meeting  was  held  on  Tuesday, 
December  ist.  Eight  members  and  one 
visitor  were  present.  Mr.  Seymour  Burrows 
took  the  chair.  The  minutes  of  the  previous 
meeting  were  read  and  confirmed.  An  ex- 
hibition of  rare  and  interesting  stamps  then 
took  place.  Several  of  the  members  present 
showed  some  rare  and  curious  varieties. 
There  may  be  specially  mentioned  —  two 
proofs  of  Ceylon  envelopes  hitherto  un- 
chronicled,  viz.,  the  8d.  and  gd.  engine- 
turned  trace  on  vertically  lined  paper. 
Unused  copies  of  the  3  lire,  Tuscany,  I2d. 
Canada,  1862  provisionals  of  British  Guiana, 
2/6  on  bleute  of  Great  Britain,  id.  and  2d. 
post  paid  Mauritius  in  the  first  state  of  the 
plate,  and  a  pair  of  10  gr.,  Hanover.  Many 
other  rarities  and  minor  varieties  were  also 
shown. 

The  fifth  meeting  was  held  on  Tuesday, 
15th  December.  Twelve  members  attended. 
The  President  in  the  chair.  After  the 
minutes  of  the  previous  meeting  had  been 
read  and  confirmed,  a  letter  was  read  from 
a  member  resigning  his  membership,  which 
was  directed  to  be  acknowledged  with  regret. 
The  Librarian  reported  the  receipt  of  Mr. 
Ewen's  album  for  the  stamps  of  Great 
Britain,  and  was  instructed  to  tender  Mr. 


Ewen  the  best  thanks  of  the  Society.  Mr. 
E.  J.  W.  Sang  then  conducted  an  Auction  of 
postage  stamps,  which  proved  a  great  success. 
Upwards  of  ninety  lots  were  submitted,  and 
bidding  was  most  keen  for  the  more  desirable 
stamps.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  sale  it  was 
announced  that  a  very  respectable  total  had 
been  reached.  A  sincere  and  hearty  vote  of 
thanks  was  accorded  Mr.  Sang  for  the  great 
trouble  he  had  taken  in  arranging  and 
conducting  the  sale. 


The  sixth  meeting  was  held  on  Tuesday, 
December  29th.  Eleven  members  were 
present.  The  President  in  the  chair.  The 
President  read  some  notes  on  the  stamps  of 
Oldenburg,  exhibiting  at  the  same  time  his 
splendid  collection  of  this  country,  and 
explaining  the  several  points  of  interest  in 
the  various  issues.  The  first  issue  with  its 
varieties  of  type  as  regards  the  gV^  and 
iV^h  was  shown  complete,  Mr.  Castle  point- 
ing out  the  several  details  of  the  differing 
types.  Many  fine  unused  specimens  of  the 
first  issue  were  noticed,  including  unsevered 
blocks  and  a  unique  pair  of  Type  2  of  the 
iVth.  The  second  issue  included  all  varieties 
used  and  unused.  Among  the  former  was 
included  a  strip  of  three  \  gr.,  black  on  green. 
In  the  third  issue  the  President  carefully 
explained  all  the  lithographic  errors,  showing 
specimens  of  all  known,  as  also  the  two 
series  of  printings  for  this  set.  In  the  last 
issue  attention  was  drawn  to  the  t«'o  sets  of 
roulettes,  the  former  gauging  \  i|,  and  the 
latter  10  to  12  mm.,  and  Mr.  Castle  showed 
that  there  were  still  many  interesting  (if 
neglected)  minor  varieties  to  be  found  among 
these  stamps.  The  collection,  which  is  com- 
plete in  almost  everything,  unused  and  used, 
was  greatly  appreciated  by  the  members 
present,  and  at  the  close  of  Mr.  Castle's 
remarks  a  most  cordial  vote  of  thanks  to 
him  was  unanimously  carried. 


PLYMOUTH  PHILATELIC  SOCIETY. 


Session  1896-7. 
President— CAVTAiti  G.  H.  W.  Stockdale,  R.E. 
Treasurer  attd  Hon.  Secretary — W.  J.   W.   Miller. 


The  second  ordinary  meeting  was  held  at 
the  Society's  Rooms,  9a,  Princess  Square, 
on  Wednesday,  October  21st,  at  7.30  p.m. 
There  were  seven  members  and  one  visitor 
present.     Mr.  Mayne  in  the  chair. 


Dr.  M.  H.  Bulteel,  of  Durnford  Street, 
Stonehouse,  and  Mr.  W.  Pryor,  of  9, 
Westwell  Street,  Plymouth,  were  unani- 
mously elected  ordinary  members  of  the 
Society. 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


25 


The  Hon.  Secretary  then  read  a  paper 
on  the  "  Stamps  of  Greece."  He  dealt 
with  the  early  or  French  design  only 
{i.e.  up  to  the  beginning  of  1886),  the  Hon. 
Secretary  illustrating  his  paper  with  his 
own  collection,  and  several  other  members 
brought  their  collections  for  the  same  pur- 
pose. At  the  conclusion  a  vote  of  thanks 
was  passed  to  the  Hon.  Secretary. 


The  third  ordinary  meeting  of  the  session 
was  held  at  grz,  Princess  Square,  on 
Wednesday,  November  4th,  at  7.30  p.m. 
The  Vice-President  (Mr.  R.  T.  Stevens) 
in  the  chair,  supported  by  nine  members 
and  two  visitors. 

The  Vice-President  having  informed  the 
meeting  that  owing  to  pressure  of  private 
work  the  Hon.  Sec.  would  be  compelled  to 
be  temporarily  assisted  in  his  duties,  it  was 
arranged  that  Mr.  F.  A.  Cocks,  R  N.,  should 
take  charge  of  the  Society's  library,  and  the 
Vice-President  should  call  the  meetings, 
&c.,  pending  the  appointment  of  another 
member.  The  Hon.  Sec.  consented  to 
continue  the  Treasurer's  work  and  corre- 
spondence. 

Mr.  J.  E.  V.  Morton,  R.N.  (Stonehouse), 
was  elected  an  ordinary  member  of  the 
Society ;  Mr.  K.  Honeysett  (Stoke),  Mr.  G. 
Hutson  (Glasgow),  and  Mr.  K.  Thakur 
(Bombay),  being  elected  corresponding 
members. 

The  Vice-President  introduced  as  the 
subject  of  study  the  stamps  of  Gibraltar  and 
Malta,  and  illustrated  his  remarks  by  the 
exhibition  of  his  own  collection.  An  in- 
teresting discussion  took  place  on  the  dies 
used  for  the  production  of  the  "De  La  Rue" 
series ;  and  a  very  pleasant  evening  was 
brought  to  a  close  by  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the 
Vice-President  for  his  interesting  paper. 


The  fourth  ordinary  meeting  was  held  at  9«, 
Princess  Square,  on  Wednesday,  November 
18th,  at  7.30  p.m.  The  Vice-President  (Mr. 
R.  T.  Stevens)  in  the  chair,  supported  by 
six  members  and  two  visitors. 

The  subject  of  study,  the  "  Stamps  of 
Cyprus,"  was  introduced  by  the  Vice- 
President,  who  illustrated  his  remarks  by 
his  own  collection,  and  showed  specimens 
of  the  different  dies  of  the  De  La  Rue 
types  for  the  information  of  members. 

A  vote  of  thanks  to  the  V'^ice-President  for 
his  interesting  paper  brought  the  meeting  to 
a  close. 


The  fifth  ordinary  meeting  was  held  at  ga, 
Princess  Square,  at  7.30  p.m.,  on  Wednesday, 
December  2nd,  1896.  The  Vice-President 
(Mr.  R.  T.  Stevens)  in  the  chair,  supported 
by  eight  members  and  three  visitors. 

The  Hon.  Secretary  reported  the  receipt 
of  the  usual  journals,  and  various  publica- 
tions and  price  lists,  which  were  accepted 
with  thanks  of  the  Society. 

Mr.  J.  R.  Divett  (Tavistock),  Mr.  K.  J.  D. 
Edwards  (Stonehouse),  and  Mr.  R.  S. 
Triggs  (Stonehouse),  were  elected  ordinary 
members  of  the  Society  ;  Mr.  W.  G. 
Bowden  (Cardiff),  and  Mr.  R.  R.  Hoare 
(H.M.S.  Magnificent),  being  elected  corre- 
sponding members. 

Mr.  W.  E.  Harvey  was  appointed  to 
assist  the  Hon.  Sec.  in  accordance  with  the 
decision  arrived  at  at  the  third  ordinary 
meeting  of  the  Society. 

The  subject  of  study,  "  The  Stamps  of 
Victoria,"  was  introduced  by  Mr.  H.  W. 
Mayne,  who,  condensing  his  remarks  into 
the  space  of  one  evening,  referred  only  to 
some  of  the  stamps  of  special  interest,  par- 
ticularly those  comprised  in  the  "  Tapling  " 
Collection.  The  members  were  shown,  by 
specimens  from  his  collection,  the  difference 
in  the  dies  used  for  the  3d.,  ist  issue,  and 
some  very  fine  specimens  of  the  stamps 
to  which  he  referred,  particularly  noticeable 
among  them  being  the  1862  2d.,  lilac, 
wmkd.  "Three  pence,"  which  was  in  fine 
unused  condition. 

An  interesting  discussion  followed,  the 
Vice-President  supplementing  Mr.  Mayne's 
remarks  with  some  valuable  information, 
illustrated  by  his  collection.  He  pointed 
out  that  the  stamps  under  discussion 
afforded  one  of  the  best  fields  for  special- 
izing, there  being  such  a  variety  of 
perforations  and  so-called  "  errors  of  wmk." 
He  placed  on  view  a  fine  specimen  on 
original  envelope  of  a  very  fine  impression 
of  the  3d.,  1st  issue,  and  stated  that  it  was 
postmarked  with  probably  one  of  the  earliest 
dates  yet  discovered. 

A  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded 
Mr.  Mayne  for  his  very  interesting  paper. 

"The   Stamps  of  Norway"  was  decided 
upon  as  the  subject  for  study  for  the  next 
meeting,  to  be  introduced  by  the  Hon.  Sec. 
W.  J.  W.  Miller,  Hon.  Sec. 

5,  Athenaeum  Terrace,  Plymouth. 


[  26        ] 


Correspnbcna. 


Co.MMU.MCATlONb. — All  iOiiiiHuiiicatioiis  on  Philatelic  vialtcrs  and  Publications  for  Review  should 
be  addressed  to  the  Editor  of  The  London  Philatelist,  Kingston  Lodge,  Ixichmond  Place, 
Brighton. 

Advertisements  should  be  sent  to  Mk.  IL  ^L  Gooch  (Advertising  Department),  Effingham  House, 
Arundel  Street,  London,  W.C. 

Suuscrii'TIONs.  — The  London  Philai  elist  will  be  sent,  post  free  in  Great  Britain  or  the  countries 
of  the  Postal  Union,  to  any  subscriber,  on  receipt  of  6s.  {§1.50).  Subscribers'  remittances  should 
be  sent  to  Mr.  II.  M.  GoocH,  Ekkini;ham  House,  Arundel  Street,  Strand,  London,  W.C. 


THE  "SURCHARGE." 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  London  Philatelist.'''' 

Sir, — What  is  a  surcharge?  The  word 
itself  is  compounded  of  "  sur,"  derived, 
through  the  French,  from  the  Latin  "super," 
and  retaining  the  original  significance  of 
over,  above,  upon :  and  "  charge,"  which 
has  a  delightfully  varied  assortment  of 
meanings.  Putting  aside  a  number  of  evi- 
dently inapplicable  definitions,  such  as  care, 
responsibility,  office,  &c.,  we  have,  in 
ordinary  language  : — 

First:  load,  or  burden.  Surcharged — over- 
loaded ! 

This  would  do  nicely  to  describe  such 
monstrosities  as  Mauritius,  2  c.  on  38  c.  on 
9d. ;  or  St.  Vincent,  id.  on  2^d.  on  id.;  and 
certain  S.  American  productions ;  but  hardly 
applies  as  a  general  rule.    So  we  go  on  to : — 

Second  :  Cost  or  Expense.  Surcharged — 
Extra  expense. 

This  is  undoubtedly  the  sense  in  which 
the  Post  Office  authorities  understand  the 
word  ;  for  we  have  actually  Colonial  stamps, 
lettered  "  Surcharged  Postage,"  used  for  the 
purpose  of  collecting  the  sum  due  upon 
delivery  of  a  wholly  or  partly  unpaid  letter. 
In  fact,  it  is  the  technical  Postal  term 
equivalent  to  the  French  "  Surtaxe,"  and  the 
German  "  Nachporto."  Surcharge  Stamps 
is,  therefore,  the  correct  name  for  those 
which  we  now  incorrectly  term  "  Unpaid 
Letter  Stamps." 

This  seems  very  clear,  and  should  be 
decisive.  For,  since  Philately  deals  solely 
with  Postal  affairs  and  productions,  its 
language  ought  surely  to  be  that  of  the  Post 
Office,  where  there  are  different  meanings 
for  any  word.  However  that  may,  or  ought 
to  be,  it  is  certain  that  such  is  not  the 
accepted  PhilateUc  significance  of  the  word. 

Heraldry  tells  us  that  a  charge  is  "any 
design  or  device  placed  upon  a  shield " ; 
therefore  a  surcharge  should  be  "  one  device 
placed  upon  another." 

I  may  here  remark  that  I  have  searched 


in  vain  for  the  word  in  this  sense  in  every 
dictionary  and  work  on  Heraldry  in  my 
possession. 

Supposing  that  the  word  exists  in  that 
sense,  does  it  apply  to  stamps  ?  A  stamp  is 
not  a  shield  in  any  sense  of  the  word ;  nor 
can  a  name  or  a  new  value  be  termed  a 
device  in  the  heraldic  sense.  (In  another 
sense  it  is  a  device,  and  a  very  poor  one). 
We  might  apply  the  term  to  such  cases  as 
that  of  the  Arms  of  Chili  on  stamps  of  Peru, 
or  even  to  those  wonderful  heads  and  arms 
(no  pun  intended)  placed  by  Peru  and  others 
on  their  own  issues  ;  but  not  to  mere  words. 

Thus  it  appears  that  the  accepted  meaning 
of  surcharge  is  Postally  wrong  and  heraldi- 
cally  wrong,  which  two  wrongs  make  one 
Philatelic  right  I 

This  is  not  as  it  should  be. 

How  does  it  sound  to  describe  a  letter,  in 
Grenada  for  example,  as  franked  with  a 
stamp  of  id.,  surcharged  on  8d.,  and  further 
surcharged  id.  on  delivery.''  The  word  is 
first  used  as  a  Philatelic  term,  and  then  in 
its  Postal  sense.  Why  should  these  two  be 
different ;  and,  again,  why  go  out  of  our  way 
to  substitute  another  word  for  our  good 
English  "  overprint " .' 

"Surcharge"  is  already  appropriated  by 
the  Post  Office  to  denote  a  sum  to  be  paid 
on  delivery ;  and  the  abbreviation  "  s "  is 
generally  used  to  denote  the  word  "specimen" 
printed  across  the  stamp  ;  from  both  of  which 
objections  the  term  "overprint"  is  free. 

I  am  aware  that  Mr.  Hinton  proposes  to 
use  this  word  as  distinguishing  stamps,  like 
those  of  St.  Helena,  which  were  never 
intended  for  use  without  the  overprint,  but 
do  not  think  he  will  find  many  adherents. 

I  also  may  share  the  same  fate,  in  spite  of 
which  I  shall  always  prefer  Postal  terms  for 
Philately  to  those  drawn  more  or  less  cor- 
rectly from  other  sciences  and  arts. 
Yours  truly, 

Ernest  A.  Elliott. 

41,  HoLL.\NU  Park,  W. 
^th  January,  1S97. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


27 


A  SUBJECT  INDEX  OF  STAMPS. 

Dear  Sir, — Permit  me  to  draw  your 
attention  to  the  fact  that  some  years  ago 
I  compiled  "An  Index  of  English  Stamp 
Magazines  from  1 862  to  1 889,"  which  appeared 
in  The  Pliilatelic  Joiir7ial  of  Great  Britain 
for  October,  1891,  and  subsequent  issues  of 
that  magazine,  a  fact  which  neither  you,  nor 
Mr.  Bellamy,  nor  the  Editor  of  the  magazine 
in  which  the  articles  appeared,  seem  to  be 
aware  of. 

The  following  table,  showing  the  magazines 
indexed,  may  be  of  interest  to  your  readers  : 

Volumes 
Titles  of  Magazines.  Indexed.  Dates. 

Stamp  Collectors' Review        I-II  ...  1862-1864 

Stamp  Collectors' Magazine  I-XII  ...  1863-1874 

Philatelist  .         .         .         .     I-X  ...  1866-1876 

Philatelical  Journal      .         .     I-II  ...  1872-1875 

Alfred      Smith      &      Co.'s 

Monthly  Circular       Nos.  1-180  ...  1875-1889 

Philatelic  Quarterly     .    Nos.  l-ll  ...  1877-1879 

Philatelic  Record         .         .   I-X  I  ...  18  79- 1889 

Stamp  Collectors'  Annual    .        I  ...  1881 
Foreign    Stamp    Collectors' 

Journal    ....    I-VI  ...  1878-1883 
Afterwards      Stamp       Col- 
lectors' Journal    .         VI-XI  ...  1883-1889 
Stamp  News     .         .         .        I-V  ...  1882-1887 

Yours  truly, 

T.  Martin  Wears. 

Craggan  Mhor,  Wormit-on-Tay. 
9M  January,  1897. 


THE  NIGER   COAST   STAMPS. 

Dear  Sir, — I  am  glad  you  inserted  my 
letter  in  November  number,  as  it  has  drawn 
such  interesting  remarks  from  Mr.  Walter 
Morley.  As  a  result,  I  have  carefully  ex- 
amined a  quantity  of  1st  Issue  Niger  Coast 
Stamps  that  strangely  came  in  my  way  soon 
after  I  wrote  you  the  note  published  in 
November.  The  result  confirms  what  Mr. 
Morley  writes  on  several  points,  but  I  think 
I  can  add  thereto. 

I  have  found  one  of  the  is.,  on  medium 
thick  yellow  wove,  perforated  14^  at  top  and 
bottom,  12  (not  12^),  for  21  mm.  down  from 
the  top,  on  both  sides,  and  then  a  clear  14 
for  the  remainder.  I  suppose  this  can  justly 
be  called  a  "compound  perf".' 

I  have  also  seen  some  blocks  of  the  id. 
with  margins  bearing  the  printer's  reference 
numbers,  and  have  noted — 

1st.  Very  dark  blue,  perf.  15,  sheet  numbered  15. 
2nd.  Med.  pale  ,,  ,,  14  ,,  unnumbered. 
3rd.  Very     ,,       ,,       ,,     14^    „    numbered  195. 


The  two  shades  of  5d.  are  also  well  known 
to  me,  and, though  now  chronicled  in  Gibbons* 
Part  I.  of  new  Price  List,  have  been  noted 
by  me  for  a  list  I  prepared  some  months 
ago.  Possibly  three  shades  of  this  value 
might  also  be  found,  as  I  am  informed  the 
issue  referred  to  was  printed  in  three  separate 
lots,  each  containing  all  the  values,  and  they 
were  sent  out  as  printed.  The  small  quantities 
were  necessitated  by  the  extremely  damp 
climate,  the  gum  being  absorbed  by  the 
paper  in  the  course  of  a  short  time. 

I  have  three  distinct  papers  for  the  is., 
the  grey  being  the  most  common,  so  far  as 
the  specimens  I  have  been  fortunate  enough 
to  see  are  concerned. 

As  to  the  2nd  Issue,  I  have  not  had  many 
copies  for  examination  ;  but  1  have  in  my 
own  collection  two  distinct  shades  of  ^d., 
2d.,  and  2^d. 

I  recently  had  presented  to  me  a  used 
copy  of  the  surcharge  "  One  Half  Penny," 
in  block  type,  on  the  2|d.,  blue,  with  value 
and  figures  barred  out ;  and,  on  examination, 
I  find  the  letter  N  has  partly  missed  printing, 
and  the  word  reads  01  E. 

I  trust  this  second  note  of  mine  may 
result  in  some  further  discoveries,  for 
there  is  doubtless  still  much  to  be  learned, 
especially  about  the  vagaries  of  Messrs. 
Waterlow's  perforating  machine,  which  bids 
fair  to  soon  leave  the  Barbados,  Trinidad, 
and  S.  Vincent  perfs.  well  behind  in  the 
race.  Yours  faithfully, 

Charles  H.  Rock. 


THE   GREEK   OLYMPIAN   STAMPS. 

Dear  Sir, — I  wrote  to  Athens  the  other 
day  respecting  the  Olympian  Games  Stamps, 
and  my  friend  replied  as  follows  : — 

"  The  Olympian  Stamps  will  be  replaced 
on  the  13th  March  next  by  a  new  regular 
issue  of  two  types,  if  the  new  stamps  are 
ready  by  that  time.  Your  countrymen  were 
unjust  to  consider  the  Olympian  as  speculative 
stamps.  The  Government  issued  them  as  a 
reminiscence  of  the  Games,  and  in  order  to 
replace  the  old  ones,  the  plates  of  which 
were  worn." 

As  the  stamps  of  Greece  are  now  attracting 
well  -  deserved    attention,    I    thought     your 
readers  would  like  to  know  how  our  opinion 
of  this  issue  is  received  in  Greece. 
Yours  faithfully, 

W.  H.  Earl. 

Jan.  16//1,  1897. 


[      28      ] 


C^f  Itarktt. 


Messrs.  A^entom,  Bull,  &  Cooper 
December  15  th  and  i6th,  1896. 


Spain,  185 1,  2  reales,  red  (fair)      . 
Switzerland.     Basle,  2|  rap. 
Tuscany,  1853,  i  soldo,  pale  yellow, 
unused     .  .         . 

Straits     Settlements,     first     issue 

complete,  unused 

Nova    Scotia,    6d.,    dark    green, 

unused  .  .         . 

United  States,   1856,  90  c,  blue, 

unused     .  .  .         . 

P.S.N.  Co.,  I  real,  blue,  used,  on 

piece  of  original 
Barbados,  id.  on  half  5s.,  rose,  pair 
showing  the  two  varieties  of 
figure    I,    surcharge    running 
from  right  to  left 
Ditto,  a  single  specimen,  unused, 
left  half  of  5s.,  with  surcharge 
running  from  left  to  right 
British  Guiana,  1850,  12  c,  black 
on  blue,  unused,  cut  to  shape 
185 1,  I  c,  blk.  on  magenta,  unused 
1853,    I    c,    vermilion,    horizontal 

strip  of  four 
1856,    4    c,    black    on    crimson, 

measuring  43  x  48  mm. 
Ditto,  ditto,  specimen  measuring 

43  x37  mm. 
1862,    Provisional    i    c,   black  on 

rose,  border  of  pearls 
Ditto,  ditto,  4  c,  black  on  blue, 

trefoil  border 
British  Honduras,  CC,  perf  14, 6d., 

rose,  unused 
Ditto,    C.A,   6d.,   yellow,  and    is. 

grey,  unused 
Nevis,  lithographed,  6d.,  grey 
Trinidad,  1862-63,  is.,  purple-blue, 
unused     .  .  .         . 


3  i; 
5     c 

4  ^ 
4     t 


d. 
O 
O 


3     7     6 


14     o 


10 

10 

0 

4 

17 

6 

5 

10 

0 

S 

10 

0 

6 

0 

0 

17     6 


4  12 

12    12 

5  10 


Messrs.  Puttick  &  Simpson. 
January  5th  and  6th. 
Great  Britain,  3d.,  Plate  4,  spray, 

block  of  8,  unused  .         .  23    o    o 

Naples,    \   tornese,    " cross,'    on 

piece  of  original  .        .3176 

Oldenburg,  second  issue,  i  gros., 

green,  unused,  no  gum  .  .  5 
Spain,  1853,  2  reales,  red,  unused  8 
Switzerland,  Vaud,  4  centimes  (top 

margin  repaired)  .         .15 

Ceylon,  imperf.,  8d.,  brown  .  .  14 
Ditto,  ditto,  IS.  9d.,  green  .  .  3 
British  East  Africa,  surcharged  on 

Co.'s  stamps,  set  of  15,  unused  10  15  o 
Mauritius,    Britannia,    is.,  green, 

block  of  8,  unused  .  .  12  o  o 
Ditto,  1 2d.,  blk.,  laid  paper,  unused  67  o  o 
Ditto,  6d.,  grey-violet,  perf.  4  15     o 

New  Brunswick,  IS.,  mauve  .   19  15     o 

Ditto.  "  Connell,"  5  cts.,  unused     .1900 


10 
o 

o 

o 

10 


;   New    Brunswick,    6|d.,    carmine- 
vermilion,  unused  (no  gum)  . 
Canada,  7id.,  green,  imperf 
Newfoundland,  6d.,  car.-vermilion 
Ditto,  IS.,  ditto 
Ditto,  IS.,  orange  (fair) 
Nova    Scotia,    6d.,    yellow-green, 

unused,  no  gum 
United  States,  periodicals,  i  c.  to 

860  (except  9  c),  unused 
Bahamas,  no  wmk.,  perf.  16,  4d., 

rose,  block  of  6,  unused 
Ditto,  ditto,  6d.,  grey-violet,  a  pair 

unused     .  .  .         . 

Nevis,  6d.,  green 
Trinidad,    hthograph,     id.,     dark 

blue,  early  impression    . 
Ditto,  ditto,  id.,  bright  blue,  early 

impression 
Ditto,  pin  perf,  id.,  rose,  corner 

block  of  4,  unused,  with  margins 
Ditto,  ditto,  4d.,  dull  violet,  block 

of  4,  ditto 
Ditto,  ditto,  6d.,  green,  block  of 

4  ditto      .  ... 

Ditto,    clean    cut   perf    15^,    id., 

rose,  block  of  4,  ditto    ". 
Virgin  Islands,  CC,  perf.    14  (ist 

type),    id.,    green,    complete 

sheet        .  .  .         . 

New  Zealand,  half  of  is.,  green, 

on  blue  paper,  used  as  6d.,  on 

original  cover,  dated  Aui^ust 

31st,  1858  .  "     . 


£      s.    </. 
10     o     o 

300 
800 

20      O      O 
700 

650 

15    15     O 

17      00 
800 

7  15  o 
5  10  o 
3  10  o 
700 

ID    10      O 
600 

3   16     o 

14    (4     O 

10     O     o 


Messrs.  Cheveley  &  Co. 
December  21st  and  22nd,  1896. 
'   France,  i  franc,  orange 
Great    Britain,    1870,    lid.,    lilac 

rose,  block  of  4,  unused  . 
Ditto,  8d.,  brown,  unused 
Hamburg,  imperf.,  9  sch. 
•   Wurtemburg,  70  kr.,  dark  lilac 
j  Ceylon,  imperf,  4d.,  rose 
i   Ditto  do.       8d.,  brown    . 

Ditto  do.       2s.,  blue 

Johor,   2c.  on  24  c.,  green,  error 

"  CENST " 

Buenos  Ayres,  4  pesos,  red  (fair) 

Ditto,  5  pesos,  orange 

Canada,  6d.,  perf,  unused 

Nevis,  perf  15,  IS.,  green      .         .     4 

Ditto,  lithograph,  6d.,  oHve,  unused 

(No.  8)  .  .         .  13 

Nevis,  CA,  6d.,  green,  pair,  unused  13 
St.    Christopher,    CA,    4d.,    blue, 

unused  .  •        •     5 

St.  \"incent,  wmk.  star,  id.,  drab, 

unused  .  .        .     4 

Trinidad,  CC,  perf  I2i,  53.,  lake, 

block  of  4,  unused  .         .     6 

United  States,  "State,"  20  dels., 

pen-cancelled      .  .        •.     5 


o     o 


3 
7 
6 

4 

ID 
O 


3 

"5 


o 
6 
o 
o 
o 
o 
o 

6 
o 
o 
o 
o 

o 

o 


2      6 


THE 


I0ni0tt  fMlat^st: 


THE    MONTHLY    JOURNAL    OF 


THE    PHILATELIC   SOCIETY,   LONDON. 


Vol.   VI. 


FEBRUARY,    1897. 


No.    62. 


%  Suhuk  €tnmB. 


E  are  indebted  to  the  columns  of  our  esteemed  con- 
temporary the  Timbre-Poste  for  the  following  enumera- 
tion of  the  stamps  issued  under  the  Seebeck  regime 
during  the  past  six  years : — 


Honduras     . 

Stamps.  Official 
Stamps. 

55  ••■  22  . 

Envs.  Wrappers.   Cards,   Unpaid. 
..       24    ...    16    ...    20 

Telegraph 
Stamps. 

Nicaragua     . 

70  ...  72  . 

..     35  ...  2  1   ...  28  ...     7 

...64 

Salvador 

132  •••  37  • 

..    100    ...    32    ...    39    ...    16 

Ecuador 

48  ...  38  . 

..     15  ...     2  ...    6  ...     6 

•••  43 

305      169 

174        71        93        29 

107 

Total 

(adding  20 

letter  cards,  etc.)  968  ! 

This  averages  no  less  than  161  fresh  varieties  per  annum  for  these 
four  South  American  Republics,  and  the  figures  bear  their  own  condem- 
nation. Our  Belgian  contemporary  devotes  a  considerable  amount  of 
good  honest  satire  anent  the  good  intentions  and  paper  assurances  of 
Mr.  Seebeck  and  the  Republics  in  question,  and  shares  with  ourselves  but 
the  scantiest  respect  therefor  in  view  of  the  actual  figures. 

The  real  opinion  of  the  vast  body  of  collectors  throughout  the  whole 
world  is  dead  against  these  stamps,  and  even  with  respect  to  the  minority 
who  still  collect  or  esteem  them,  we  consider  it  our  duty  to  again  emphasise 
the  facts  relating  to  them.  On  previous  occasions  we  have  called  attention 
to  the  abuses  of  the  Seebeck  system  (inter  alia),  and  may  have,  in  certain 
quarters,  failed  to  please,  as  the  accusation  has  been  made  that  this  journal 
is  not  in  favour  of  New  Issues.  This  hardly  needs  any  refutation  ;  the 
appearance  of  new  stamps,  especially  when  the  circumstances  are  politically 
or  geographically  interesting,  or  where  the  design  is  handsome  or  the 
62a 


30      THE  FIRST  LOCALLY-PRINTED  STAMPS   OF  NEW  ZEALAND. 

execution  good,  they  must  be  welcomed  alike  by  the  collector,  the  dealer,  or 
the  journalist.  Such  a  fresh  issue  is  consistent  evidence  of  the  growth  of  the 
Postal  system,  whose  indices  are  the  very  things  that  we  collect,  and  they 
appeal,  by  their  obvious  facility  of  acquisition,  alike  to  the  veteran  who  is 
otherwise  complete,  or  the  neophyte  who  has  practically  nothing.  There  can 
be  no  hostility  towards  New  Issues  prepared  for  public  requirements,  but  only 
towards  those  that  are  produced  to  further  private  ends,  and  are  made  in 
order  that  collectors  may  be  laid  under  contribution.  These  latter  Postal 
contrabands  should  be  decried  by  all  who  are  desirous  of  the  perma7tency 
of  Philately,  and  nothing  can  better  serve  that  end  than  the  endeavour  to 
point  out  to  all  and  sundry  the  true  value  and  merits  of  their  purchases. 
It  is  better  that  the  minority  already  referred  to,  who  collect  these  Seebecks, 
should  understand  that,  in  expending  money  or  time  upon  stamps  produced 
by  the  million  for  ultra-Postal  purposes,  they  are  laying  by  no  harvest  for 
the  future,  and  it  is  therefore  in  their  real  interests  that  Philatelic  journals 
should  fearlessly  express  their  opinions.  Confidence  is  the  root  and  essence 
of  Philately  :  there  is  nothing  that  so  undermines  stability  of  any  pursuit 
as  withholding  true  knowledge  of  its  dangers,  and  it  is  better  for  all  that 
the  drawbacks  as  well  as  the  advantages  of  Philately  should  be  openly 
criticised  in  those  journals  who  have  its  real  interests  at  heart. 


A  Paper  communicated  to  the  Philatelic  Society,  London,  and 
Read  at  the  Meeting  of  February  7th,  1896. 

By   CHARLES    H.   MOTTRAM. 


^F  T  will  probably  be  remembered  that  in  my  first  paper  on  the 
stamps  of  New  Zealand,  read  before  this  Society  in  January, 
1895,  and  subsequently  published  in  the  London  Philatelist^ 
I  noted  a  few  historic  facts  concerning  the  establishment  of 
British  rule  in  the  Colony  in  1840. 

I  also  traced  the  career  of  the  Crown  Colony  down  to  the 
passing,  by  the  Imperial  Parliament,  of  the  Constitution  Act,  1852,  granting 
representative  government,  and  powers  to  subdivide  New  Zealand,  which 
henceforward  became,  and  remained  for  several  years,  a  federation  of  six 
semi-independent  Provinces,  controlled  to  a  certain  extent  only  by  the 
General  Government  seated  at  Auckland. 

Proceeding  onwards,  and  dealing  throughout  with  the  principal  items  of 
the  Colonial  Postal  Service  and  Early  Rates,  I  concluded  with  the  event 
bearing  on  the  first  issue  of  stamps,  on  July  i^t^i,   1855,  and  from  official 

•   The  London  I'hilatelist,  May  and  June,  1895. 


THE   FIRST  LOCALLY-PRINTED  STAMPS   OF  NEW  ZEALAND.      31 

information  which  I  had  collected,  /  sought  to  show  to  what  extent  the  three 
values,  namely,  the  One  Penny,  Tzvopence,  and  One  Shilling  (selected  for 
currency  in  that  year  by  the  Colonial  Government),  conld  be  utilised  by  the 
public.  The  evidence,  however,  according  to  the  rates  in  force,  seemed  to 
point  to  the  almost  exclusive  use,  during  the  first  two  years,  of  the  Twopence 
vahie. 

I  originally  intended  to  include  some  suggestions  on  matters  which 
require  explanation,  with  regard  to  the  stamps  printed  locally  by  Mr.  J. 
Richardson,  of  Auckland,  after  the  plates  and  ''star"  watermarked  sheets 
printed  therefrom,  in  London,  had  been  received  in  the  Colony,  but  I  deemed 
it  wiser  to  reserve  the  publication  of  that  portion  of  my  paper  until  the 
promised  official  information  of  Mr.  A.  T.  Bate,  of  Wellington,  New  Zealand, 
relative  to  the  early  stamps,  had  been  published  in  this  Society's  Journal.* 


The  discovery  by  Mr.  Bate  of  recorded  particulars,  in  the  form  of  corre- 
spondence and  accounts,  relating  to  the  first  printing  of  postage  stamps 
under  the  supervision  of  the  Colonial  Government  (the  major  part  of  the 
records  of  the  postal  and  other  departments  having,  we  hear,  been  lost  in 
1865,  by  the  wreck  of  the  White  Swan),  is,  without  doubt,  of  supreme 
importance  and  assistance  in  compiling  a  history  of  the  issues,  substituting, 
as  it  does,  facts  in  place  of  speculation  relative  to  the  production  of  the 
early  New  Zealand  stamps. 

Mr.  E.  D.  Bacon  most  carefully  arranged  Mr.  Bate's  extracts  for  publica- 
tion, and  also  added  some  very  useful  notes  to  them. 


I  propose  in  this  paper  to  offer  some  remarks  on  this  valuable  addition 
to  our  previous  knowledge  of  these  interesting  stamps,  and  furthermore  to 
give  the  result  of  a  search  I  have  been  engaged  upon,  for  the  purpose  of 
gleaning  a  few  particulars  of  statistical  interest. 

Before  doing  so,  I  will  refer  shortly  to  the  discoloration  of  the  ''star" 
paper,  observable  in  some  of  the  stamps  of  the  first  issue,  in  1855,  known  as 

The  "BLEUTifc"  Paper  Variety. 

It  having  been  proved  by  Mr.  Bacon  that  the  three  values  of  the  first 
set  of  New  Zealand  were  printed  by  Messrs.  Perkins,  Bacon  &  Co.,  on  paper 
watermarked  with  a  large  six-rayed  star,f  and,  moreover,  that  the  colour 
of  the  One  Penny  vidiS  "deep  carmine-red" \  and  the  Twopence  "greenish  blue"% 
— while  it  is  also  known  to  Philatelists  that  the  One  Shilling,  yelloiv-green,  on 
paper  of  a  bluish  tinge,  may  safely  be  assigned  to  the  supply  sent  out  to  the 
Colony  in  1854  by  the  before-mentioned  firm — the  Loftdon-printed  stamps, 
therefore,  can  thus  be  readily  distinguished  by  their  several  colours  or  shades 
from  any  of  the  local  printings  on  "  star"  watermarked  paper,  which,  according 

*   The  London  Philatelist,  KVigMii,  1895. 

t  I  he  London  Philatelist,  October,  1892. 

X  The  London  Philatelist,  August,  1893. 

J  Stanley  Gibbons^  Monthly  Lournal,  November,  1892, 


32      THE  FIRST  LOCALLY-PRIATHD   STAMPS   OF  NEW  ZEALAND. 

to  the  statement  made  by  the  late  Mr.  John  Davies,  "was  used  for  the  first 
time  ill  Auckland,  in  February,  1862."* 

Mr.  Bate's  information  fixes  the  time  when  the  first  printing  of  stamps 
took  place  in  the  Colony,  and  therefore  it  has  removed  all  doubt  as 
to  whether  impressions  of  the  three  values  found  printed  in  the  above- 
mentioned  colours,  on  "■  bleute"  and  on  white  " star'' paper  respectively,  were, 
in  both  cases,  printed  in  London,  or  in  one  instance  only,  as  surmised  by 
sane  writers. 

He  gives  November  5th,  1855,  as  the  date  when  Mr.  Richardson  com- 
menced printing  for  the  Colonial  Government.  Consequently  the  copies  of 
the  Twopence  in  the  "  Tapling"  collection  at  the  British  Museum,  affixed  to 
portions  of  their  original  letter-sheets,  dated  August  ist,  1855,  and  described 
by  Mr.  Bacon  in  Stafiley  Gibbons  Monthly  Journal  for  November,  1892,  as 
printed  on  wliite  "star"  paper ;  and  the  specimens  of  the  same  value  on 
letters  dated  in  August  and  October,  1855,  in  the  collections  of  two  New 
Zealand  Philatelists,  and  stated  by  them  to  be  printed  on  "  bleute  star" 
paper, \  all  show,  therefore,  by  their  dates  of  use  that  they  formed  part  of 
the  .?75  sheets  of  the  Twopence  \zX\xt  printed  in  London  in  1854  by  Messrs. 
Perkins,  Bacon  &  Co. 

Mr.  Bacon,  in  1893,  made  known  the  fact  that  he  had  found  a  pair  of  the 
London-printed  One  Penny,  "deep  carmine-red"  on  "star"  paper,  still  in  the 
hands  of  Messrs.  Perkins,  Bacon  &  Co.,  but  that  these  copies  had  no  trace 
of  blueing  in  the  paper ;  and  he  is,  moreover,  of  opinion  that  the  50  sheets 
of  this  value  printed  by  the  above  firm  7vere  all  of  white  paper,  and  that 
the  ittk  employed  closely  resembled  in  shade  the  first  Twopence,  carmine-red, 
imperforate,  of  South  Australia,  printed  by  them  in  the  same  year  as  the 
New  Zealand  stamps,  namely  1854.  The  former  also,  lie  says,  has  never  been 
found  in  the  "bleute  stated 

The  33  sheets  and  80  stamps  of  the  One  Shilling  (to  make  up  a  total  face- 
value  of  ;^iooo  derived  from  the  London  printing  from  the  three  plates) 
are,  I  believe,  only  known  in  the  "bleute"  condition. 

It  will  be,  however,  for  specialists  to  determine  whether  tzvo  sets  can  be 
made  up,  of  the  Twopence  and  One  Shilling  values,  representing  both  the 
" bleut^"  and  white  " star" paper  varieties  respectively. J 


The  foregoing  facts,  deduced  from  existing  dated  copies  of  the  Twopence 
value,  show  that  the  London  printing,  from  whatever  cause,  was  responsible 
for  the  presence  of  a  blue  tinge  in  the  paper  of  some  of  the  sheets,  and  the 
absence  of  it  in  others.  /«  a7iy  case  the  issue  and  use  in  the  Colony  of  both 
varieties  were  simultaneous,  and  prior  to  the  first  local  printing  of  November, 
1855,  on  paper  the  quality  of  which  has  yet  to  be  discovered. 

*  The  Philatelic  Record,  September,  1889. 

t  Stanley  Gibbons  Alonthly  Journal,  October,  1S92. 

X  Since  writing  the  above  notes,  I  have  been  informed  {June,  1896)  by  Messrs.  Stanley  Gibbons, 
Limited,  that  two  or  three  copies  of  the  One  Penny,  of  the  London  printing,  with  a  "  bleutP'  appear- 
ance in  the  paper,  have  recently  passed  through  their  hands.  But  I  have  not  had  the  opportunity 
of  inspecting  these  impressions.     And  Mr.  Bacon  tells  me  he  did  not  see  them  either. — C.  H.  M. 


THE  FIRST  LOCALLY-PRINTED   STAMPS   OF  NEW  ZEALAND.      33 


The  First  Local  Printing. 

A  perusal  of  Mr.  Bate's  interesting  information,  disclosing  much  that  it 
is  important  to  know  with  regard  to  the  first  stamps  produced  in  the  Colony, 
still  leaves  us  with  a  desire  to  ascertain,  if  possible, y?rj-//f,  why  an  exclusive 
printing  of  the  One  Penny  value  was  decided  upon,  when  the  Tzvopence  only 
was  required,  for  single  letters  of  half  an  ounce  in  weight,  both  for  postage 
in  the  Colony  and  to  places  beyond  seas ;  and,  secondly,  what  kind  of  paper 
was  employed  for  the  earliest  local  printing. 

In  seeking  for  a  solution  of  these  two  questions,  the  regrettable  lack 
of  official  record  on  the  subject  compels  me  (as  has  frequently  been  the  case 
with  other  writers  in  relation  to  early  postal  issues)  to  resort  to  the  adoption 
of  theory,  a  method  which  I  feel  bound  to  say  I  am  much  opposed  to,  it 
having  been  proved  in  many  cases  to  be  inconclusive  and  unsatisfactory. 

Future  discovery,  however,  in  the  form  of  old  correspondence  still 
bearing  specimens  of  the  early  stamps  which  franked  it,  may  be  the  means 
of  endorsing  some,  or  perhaps  all,  of  the  following  propositions. 


The  decision  of  the  New  Zealand  Government  to  have  the  plates  and 
all  necessary  appliances  for  the  printing  of  the  stamps  therefrom  forwarded 
to  the  Colony  in  1854,  doubtless  arose  from  a  conviction  that  a  due  supply 
of  labels  could  not,  with  any  degree  of  regularity,  be  obtained  from  London 
in  those  early  days,  the  passage  by  sailing-ship  occupying  at  that  time  about 
five  months  each  way,  and  the  mail  packet  boats  from  England  to  Australia 
having  been  meanwhile  withdrawn  and  requisitioned  for  service  by  the 
British  Government  during  our  contest  with  Russia  in  the  Crimea. 

Nevertheless,  after  a  perusal  of  the  published  correspondence  between 
the  Colonial  Secretary's  Department  and  Mr.  J.  Richardson,  revealing  the 
details  adopted  at  the  first  printing  in  the  Colony,  it  appears  to  me  that 
the  Government  did  not  find  itself  thoroughly  prepared  for  such  an  under- 
taking. 

There  being  no  Government  Printing  Department  at  that  period  in 
Auckland,  and  the  printers  of  The  General  Government  Gazette,  Messrs. 
Williamson  and  Wilson,  apparently  for  some  reason,  were  not  selected  to 
print  the  stamps,  a  stationer  in  the  town  was  found  more  suitable  to  receive 
the  contract. 

The  latter,  oddly  enough,  had,  on  removal  from  other  premises,  inserted 
in  one  of  the  public  journals,  The  Nezv  Zealander,  a  notice  to  that  efi"ect 
on  July  14th,  1855,  the  day  following  the  issue  of  the  first  stamps  at 
Auckland. 

As  the  name  of  that  personage  has  by  this  time  become  somewhat 
famous,  in  connection  with  the  printing  of  the  early  stamps  for  the  New 
Zealand  Government,  it  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  quote  in  extenso 
the  terms  of  his  announcement. 


34      THE  FIRST  LOCALLY-PRINTED  STAMPS   OF  NEW  ZEALAND. 
The  legend  ran  thus — 

"/.  RICHARDSON, 

Bookseller,  Stationer,  Engraver,  and  ' 

Copper-plate  Printer, 

Shortland  Crescent, 

Begs  to  inform  the  inhabitants  of 

Auckland  and  its  vicinity  that 

he  has  removed  from  Queen-Street  to 

the  above  address,  where  he  continues 

to  keep  on  hand  an  assorttnent  of 

Music,  Books,  Stationery,  etc.  etc. 

Copper-plate  Printing  on  the 

shortest  notice." 

The  foregoing  attractive  and  opportune  notification  was  evidently  not 
made  without  effect,  and  in  due  time  attention  was  drawn  to  it  in  official 
quarters,  Mr.  G.  Eliott  Eliott  going  so  far  as  to  inform  the  Colonial  Secretary 
that  there  was  but  one  person  in  the  town  competent  to  print  the  postage 
stamps. 

We  may  infer  therefore,  from  this,  that  the  authorities  had  no  choice 
in  the  matter  of  selection. 

The  copper-plate  printing,  stated  by  Mr.  Richardson  as  forming  a  branch 
of  his  business,  would  doubtless  have  reference  to  impressions  from  plates, 
whereon  certain  inscriptions  had  been  graven,  of  a  character  with  which 
we  are  familiar. 

The  plates  which  bore  the  engraved  design  of  the  New  Zealand  stamps 
(differing  only  in  one  respect,  namely  that  they  were  of  steel)  would, 
without  doubt,  require  no  small  amount  of  knowledge  and  practice  to 
manipulate  the  printing  of  impressions  therefrom  successfully,  through  the 
roller-press,  and  especially  so  if  the  thin  watermarked  paper  sent  out  to  the 
Colony  by  Messrs.  Perkins,  Bacon  &  Co.  was  to  be  employed. 

The  first-named  process  would  be,  in  fact,  of  a  far  simpler  character 
in  comparison  with  the  latter,  which  is  identical  v^\\.\\fine  art  printing. 

After  several  necessary  stipulations  had  been  agreed  to  between  the 
Government  and  Mr.  Richardson,  a  day  was  fixed  for  that  which  might 
be  considered  a  trial  printing,  and  the  notable  event  occurred  on  Monday, 
November  sth,  1855. 

The  One  Penny  Value  Selected. 

Only  three  days  previous  to  the  above  date,  the  Colonial  Secretary  had 
decided  to  have  a  printing  from  each  of  the  three  plates,  equal  to  the 
supply  of  the  One  Penny,  Twopcjiny,  and  One  Shillijig  stamps  which  liad  been 
received  from  London. 

In  the  following  week,  however,  an  alteration  must  have  been  made,  and 
instructions  given,  of  which  we  have  no  record,  to  print  from  the  plate  of  the 
One  Penny  stamp  only,  and,  as  regards  number,  _/«;-  ?'«  excess  of  the  12,000 
labels  of  that  value  obtained  from  England. 


THE  FIRST  LOCALLY-PRINTED  STAMPS   OF  NEW  ZEALAND.      35 

On  the  showing  of  Mr.  Eliott's  memoranda,  Mr.  Richardson  printed, 
between  November  $th  and  December  i^th,  2g,oi6  perfect  labels  of  the  One 
Penny,  and  his  account  for  2g,ooo  stamps,  at  4s.  per  thousand,  was  approved 
by  the  Colonial  Treasurer  on  February  ist,  1856. 

We  learn  that  at  the  commencement  of  the  work  "  t/ie  expense  of  produc- 
tion in  printing  the  postage  stamps"  was  found  to  h^"  greater  than  anticipated','' 
and  the  application  by  Mr.  Richardson  for  permission  to  charge  4s.  in  place 
of  3s.  per  thousand  stamps  printed  was  agreed  to.  Mr.  Eliott  also,  in 
recommending  the  additional  charge,  added  that  ^' the  labour  of  printing" 
was  "heavy  and  tedious." 

It  is  important  to  note  that  as  Mr.  Richardson  was  evidently  not  supplied 
with  the  coloured  printing-inks  which  we  understand,  on  Mr.  Bacon's 
information,*  were  setit  out  from  London  to  the  Colony  with  the  first  stamps, 
he  may  have  had  some  difficulty,  at  first,  in  obtaining  in  Auckland  all  the 
colours  required.  Hence,  perhaps,  the  motive  for  a  modification  in  the 
original  order  for  printing  from  each  of  the  three  plates. 

The  Twopence  and  One  Shilling  deferred. 

Ultramarine,  in  particular,  being  a  most  expensive  pigment,  the  printing 
of  the  Twopenny  stamps  was  probably  on  that  account  postponed,  and  mean- 
while pairs  of  the  One  Penny  must  have  been  tUiliscd  for  the  lialf-otmce  scale 
of  postage. 

The  "  requisition  for  a  further  supply  of  One  Penny  and  Twopenny  stamps, 
received  from  Nezu  Plyjnouth  on  November  2$th,  1855"  (mentioned  by  Mr. 
Bate),  could  only  have  been  answered  by  despatching  sheets  of  the  lowest 
value,  seeing  that  down  to  December  13th  the  One  Penny  was  the  only  label 
issued  from  Mr.  Richardson's  press. 

Judging  from  the  date  (F'ebruary  ist,  1856)  of  the  passing,  by  the 
Colonial  Treasurer,  of  Mr.  Richardson's  charges  for  printing,  and  their 
reference  solely  to  the  One  Penny  stamps,  it  may,  I  think,  be  concluded  that 
the  first  issue  of  the  locally-printed  Twopence  could  not  have  taken  place  earlier 
than  the  beginning  of  1856.  The  Sub-Committee  of  this  Society,  when 
investigating,  in  1893,  the  dates  of  the  early  imperforate  issues,  had  before 
them  a  specimen  of  the  Twopenny  label,  printed  on  the  official  blue  wove 
''foolscap"  paper,  and  dated  April  "^oth,  1856,!  and  at  the  present  time  this 
is  the  earliest  known  postal  use  of  a  locally-printed  stamp  of  any  of  the  three 
values. 

Lastly,  referring  to  the  postal  rates  which  regulated  the  use  of  the  first 
issue  of  stamps,  the  One  Shilling  value  was,  under  them,  practically  not 
required,  and  though  issued  by  the  Colonial  Treasurer  in  1855,  with  the  two 
lower  values  of  the  first  set,  would  be  likely  to  have  remained  on  hand,  to  a 
large  extent,  at  the  various  Post-offices  till  the  introduction  of  the  sixpenny 
rate  per  half-ounce  to  Great  Britain,  in  1857. 

That  this  was  so  is  proved  by  the  fact  that  although  only  250  labels 
of  the  London -printed  One  Shilling  stamp  were  forwarded  to  the  Province 

•   The  London  Philatelist,  October,  1892. 
t    The  London  Philatelist,  October,   1894. 


36      THE  FIRST  LOCALLY-PRINTED  STAMPS  OF  NEW  ZEALAND. 

of  Otago,  in  July,  1855,  this  supply  sufficed  at  the  Chief  Post-office^ 
Dunedin,  till  February,  1858,  as  referred  to  in  my  "Notes  on  the  First  Issued 
Stamps,"  published  in  the  London  Philatelist  for  June,  1895. 

All  these  considerations  lead  me  to  the  belief  that  future  discovery  will 
probably  show  that  the  first  local  printing  from  the  plate  of  the  One  Shilling 
stamp  did  not  occur  until  1857,  ^^  perhaps  1858,  when  the  issue  of  this  value 
on  blue  wove  paper  certainly  succeeded  the  exhaustion  of  the  supply  of  the 
London-printed  impressions,  on  " star"  paper,  at  Dunedin,  early  in  1858,  as 
shown  in  a  short  list  of  dated  copies  of  both  varieties  in  my  possession,  and 
quoted  in  my  "  Remarks  on  the  Early  Postal  Rates  of  New  Zealand," 
published  in  the  London  Philatelist  for  May,  1895. 

The  Paper  employed  in  November  and  December,  1855. 

In  considering  the  great  problem,  namely,  What  quality  of  paper  did  the 
Colonial  Government  use  for  the  first  local  printing?  it  must  be  admitted  that 
a  very  difficult  question  presents  itself  for  solution,  and  the  elucidation  of  it, 
I  feel,  might  well  be  with  those  far  more  capable  than  myself  in  dealing 
with  it. 

The  official  correspondence  found  by  Mr.  Bate  does  not  allude  in  any 
way  to  this  doubtful  point.  It  is  still,  therefore,  a  matter  for  discussion 
whether  the  watermarked  paper  sent  from  London,  or  the  wove  "foolscap " 
paper  of  the  Colonial  Secretary's  Office,  was  used. 

The  New  Zealand  Government,  at  all  events,  agreed  to  supply  Mr. 
Richardson  with  the  paper  required  for  printing  the  stamps,  and  as  six  reams, 
watermarked  with  a  "  star"  had  been  sent  to  the  Colony  with  the  first  specimens 
by  Messrs.  Perkins,  Bacon  &  Co.  (as  stated  by  them  to  Mr.  E.  D.  Bacon), 
it  is  highly  probable  that  Mr.  Eliott,  who  had  been  requested  by  the  Colonial 
Secretary,  at  the  desire  of  Mr.  Richardson,  to  be  present  at  the  printing,  took 
with  him,  not  only  the  plate  of  the  One  Penny  value,  but  a  portion  of  the 
'^  star"  paper,  for  the  printer's  use  in  the  first  experiment. 

There  was  evidently  a7i  unsuccessful  printing,  probably  in  the  case  of  one 
sheet,  of  whichever  kind  of  paper,  for  as  Mr.  Bacon  has  pointed  out,  the 
figures  2g,oi6  (being  the  number  of  One  Penny  labels  printed)  '■'are  not 
divisible  by  24.0"  the  number  of  stamps  on  the  plate. 

A  deficiency,  therefore,  is  shown  of  2^f.  stamps  {equal  to  two  complete  rows), 
and  "  it  seems  probable,"  as  Mr.  Bacon  says,  that  they  "  were  defective  in  some 
way,  and  were  in  conseqiiencc  removed!' 

Mr.  Eliott  reported,  on  November  12th,  the  result  of  the  first  week's 
work,  to  the  effect  that  "  i6,yy6  penny  stamps  =  £6g  i8s.,  had  been  printed." 
The  deficiency,  then,  happened  in  that  interval,  for  this  printing,  representing 
yo  sheets,  should,  by  a  division  of  240,  have  yielded  16,800  perfect  stamps. 

The  mishap  therefore,  occurriiig  as  it  did  at  the  outset  of  Air.  Richardson's 
printing,  was  not  improbably,  I  think,  sustaified  by  the  first  sheet  struck  off. 

One  month  later  {December  \lth),  Mr.  Eliott  reported  that  a  second 
instalment  had  "  been  printed"  namely,  "  12,240  penny  stamps  =^  £51  ■ 

This  number,  beiiig  divisible  by  240,  represents  j/  complete  sheets,  which, 


THE  FIRST  LOCALLY-PRINTED  STAMPS   OF  NEW  ZEALAND.      37 

together  with  the  before-mentioned  70,  make  a  total  of  121,  equalling  5  quires 
of  2i}.  sheets — phis  one  sheet. 

I  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain  whether  the  six  reams  of  ''star"  paper 
sent  from  London  were  divided  into  quires  of  2^  sheets.  If  they  were  so, 
and  if  "  star "  paper  had  been  used  throughout,  the  total  of  Mr.  Richardson  s 
prhiting  on  both  occasions  would  have  shoivn  a  return  of  120  sheets  only  (that 
is  to  say,  5  quires),  producing  28,800  stamps,  inclusive  of  the  24.  defective 
specimens.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  wove  "foolscap"  paper  had  been  used 
from  first  to  last,  also  to  the  extent  of  5  quires  only,  the  same  result  as  to 
number  of  sheets  consumed  and  stamps  printed  must  have  ensued. 

From  the  discovery  (in  a  collection  of  high  repute)  of  a  faulty  though 
most  interesting  early  impression  of  the  One  Penny  vaXwQ,  on  "star"  paper, 
which  I  will  presently  endeavour  to  describe,  it  seems  to  me  (after  an 
examination  of  this  specimen)  to  be  within  the  range  of  possibility  that  the 
following  line  of  action,  with  regard  to  the  local  printing,  may  have  been 
taken  on  the  first  day  thereof;  namely,  that  after  an  unsuccessful  trial  with 
ofie  sheet  of  "star"  paper,  Mr.  Richardson  obtained  permission  to  use  thick  wove 
paper  for  the  remainder  of  t J le  printing ;  hence  the  probable  addition,  or,  as 
I  suggest,  substittition  of  5  quires  of  "foolscap"  paper  from  the  Colonial 
Secretary's  OfSce,  according  to  the  previous  calculation  :  and  that  quantity 
would,  with  very  little  doubt,  have  consisted  of  24  sheets  to  each  quire, 
resulting  in  a  total  printing  of  121  (inclusive  of  the  misprinted  sheet  of 
"star"  paper),  which  would  not  have  been  the  case  if  5  quires  only  of  "star" 
paper  had  been  employed  in  this  printing. 

Mr.  Richardson  would,  moreover  (as  a  stationer),  undoubtedly  have  had 
much  experience,  and  a  possible  preference,  for  printing  purposes,  of  paper 
of  ordinary  manufacture. 

Past  information  also  strongly  infers  that  "iooX's.cz.'^"  paper  was  used  for  all 
the  local  printings,  extending  from  1855  to  February,  1862.  And  as  Mr.  John 
Davies  came  to  the  Colony  from  London  as  far  back  as  1861  [before  the  wove 
paper  issues  had  ceased)  in  order  to  superintend  the  printing  of  the  postage 
stamps  in  the  Postmaster-General's  Office  at  Auckland,  he  in  all  probability 
would  have  had  the  opportunity  of  ascertaining,  from  the  officials  contemporary 
with  the  first  use  of  stamps  in  1855,  what  the  practice  of  the  Colonial  Secre- 
tary's Department  had  been  with  regard  to  the  early  printings.  Indeed,  we 
learn  as  much  from  his  paper  on  "  The  Postage  Stamps  of  New  Zealand," 
published  in  the  Philatelic  Record,  which  I  have  mentioned  above,  and  also 
from  the  communication  of  Mr.  H.  J.  Knowles,  of  Wellington,  New  Zealand, 
to  the  Stamp  Nezvs.*  Mr.  Davies'  statement  was  that  in  his  interview  with 
one  of  those  officials,  seemingly,  from  what  we  now  know  of  the  facts,  to 
have  been  Mr.  G.  Eliott  Eliott,  he  was  informed  that  in  the  early  days 
"small  numbers  were  only  required"  and  "  a  few  quires  of  foolscap"  (which 
together  with  the  plates  Mr,  Eliott  took  with  him  from  his  office)  were  used 
by  the  printer,  Mr.  Richardson. 

*   The  Stamp  News,  February,  1 893,  p.  22. 


38      THE  FIRST  LOCALLY-PRINTED  STAMPS   OF  NEW  ZEALAND. 


The  Misprinted  Impressions. 

I  will  now  refer  to  the  defective  stamp  in  question. 

In  looking  through  the  New  Zealand  portion  of  the  collection  of  the  late 
Mr.  T.  K.  Tapling,  M.P.,  at  the  British  Museum,  I  noticed  a  specimen  of  the 
One  Penny,  first  type,  printed  in  vermilion  (or,  as  some  may  deem  it,  orange- 
vermilion),  on  "star"  paper,  and  imperforate.  The  stamp  had  also  passed 
through  the  post  to  Australia,  and  bears  the  early  lined  oval  (enclosing 
"  N.  S.  Wr )  cancellation  of  Nevo  South  Wales. 

It  is  a  most  remarkable  stamp  in  appearance,  being  the  overprinting 
of  parts  of  two  impressions  upon  one  another,  thereby  duplicating  the 
design. 

Either  the  plate  or  the  sheet  may  have  shifted  in  passing  out  of  the  roller- 
press,  and  in  so  doing  the  upper  and  lower  impressions,  probably  in  the 
last  two  rows  of  the  plate,  seem  to  have  collided. 

A  further  extraordinary  feature  about  the  stamp  is,  that  whereas  the 
width  of  the  label  is  the  same,  the  height  is  less  by  seven  mm.  than  that  of 
an  ordinary  specimen.  By  what  means  the  shortening  was  produced  is  not 
easy  even  to  conjecture. 

The   effect   of  this   accident   to  part   of  a  sheet   of  24.0  stamps  would 
presumably   cause   the   damage  of  two  complete  rows  of  12  labels  in  each, 
that  is   .?/   specimens,  which   number,  coinciding  with   those   missing  out  of 
the  first  local  printing,  thus  far  corresponds  with  the  possibility  of  this  dual 
stamp  having  formed  part  of  the  odd  sheet  of  the  first  week's  printing. 

A  discovery  at  this  juncture  of  a  number  of  specimens  of  the  One  Penny 
value  of  the  local  printings  of  November  and  December,  1855,  on  their  original 
date-stamped  covers,  would  be  most  intei'esting  as  showing  whether  "star" 
watermarked  or  "  foolscap "  paper  was  used  wholly  or  in  part  only ;  and 
also  of  utility  for  the  purpose  of  comparittg  the  shade  of  vermilion  of  those 
stamps  with  that  of  the  defective  specimen  now  under  consideration,  and 
by  such  examination  it  might  be  possible  to  fix  the  year  of  its  issue. 

At  present  the  latter  cannot  with  certainty  be  assigned  to  the  earliest 
printing  in  the  Colony.  But  if  it  did  not  form  part  of  Mr.  Richardson's 
work,  Mr.  John  Davies  must  be  credited  with  its  production  on  his  assuming 
the  office  of  Government  Printer  in  1862,  when  the  issue  of  imperforate 
stamps  on  "  star "  paper  was  again  current  in  the  Postal  Service  of  New 
Zealand. 

Mr.  Davies,  however,  had  had  a  long  experience  with  Messrs.  Perkins, 
Bacon  &  Co.,  in  London,  and  therefore  would  have  been  more  unlikely  to 
have  produced  this  stamp. 

Perhaps  the  most  singular  and  interesting  part  of  the  history  of  this 
variety,  if  it  could  be  revealed,  would  be  a  faithful  recital  of  its  career  as  a 
^' used"  stamp. 

In  the  absence  of  certain  information,  and  assuming  for  the  moment  that 
it  is  one  of  the  rejected  impressions  of  November,  1855,  by  what  means 
could  it  have  attained  the  above  condition .-' 

The  correspondence   between   the   Colonial    Secretary  and  the    Colonial 


THE  FIRST  LOCALLY-PRINTED   STAMPS   OF  NEW  ZEALAND.      39 

Treasurer  shows  that  out  of  a  possible  16,800  one  penny  stamps,  only  \^,']^& 
were  handed  over  to  the  latter  official  on  November  ijth  to  be  issued  by  him. 

Therefore  24  stamps,  or  whatever  might  have  represented  that  number  in 
the  printing,  must  have  been  retained,  but  apparently  not  destroyed,  by  the 
Colonial  Secretary. 

The  inference,  then,  appears  to  be  that  this  specimen  never  formed  part  of 
the  stock  of  stamps  at  the  Post-office,  and  consequently  could  not  have  been 
issued  from  thence. 

This  assumption  seems,  I  think,  justifiable  by  the  absence  of  any  New 
Zealand  cancellation  on  the  stamp. 

The  letter  therefore,  with  this  label  affixed,  could  not  have  been  "  made 
tip  "  in  a  mail,  and  enclosed  in  the  mail-bag,  by  a  Post-office  official,  by  reason 
that  the  republished  Proclamation  of  December  31st,  1850,  in  T/ie  General 
Government  Gazette  of  July  13th,  1855,  states  that  "Postmasters  are  directed, 
on  the  receipt  of  stamped  letters  or  packets  in  each  Post-office,  to  cancel  the 
stamps  on  such  letters  or  packets  previous  to  their  despatch!' 

The  only  solution  I  can  offer  to  account  for  its  transit  to  Australia  is  that 
the  letter  it  franked  may  have  been  handed  to  the  shipmaster  by  a  New 
Zealand  Government  official  (not  necessarily  of  the  Post-office),  in  company, 
perhaps,  with  other  "loose"  letters  (which  latter  were  permitted  to  be  so 
conveyed  by  the  masters  of  vessels),  and  was  delivered,  according  to 
regulation,  with  the  mail-bags  at  the  General  Post-office,  Sydney. 

The  stamp  may  have  been  used  shortly  or  long  after  it  had  passed  out 
of  the  printer's  hands,  and  the  fact  that  the  New  South  Wales  cancellation 
which  it  bears  was,  I  believe,  in  use  for  a  considerable  period,  will  not  be  a 
guide  to  the  age  of  the  stamp.  The  colour  alo7ie  must,  I  fear,  be  relied  upon 
to  identify  it,  at  some  future  time,  with  its  contemporaries  of  one  of  the 
local  printings. 

I  hope  it  will  be  possible,  at  no  distant  date,  to  obtain  a  reproduction  of 
this  very  odd  New  Zealand  stamp  for  the  purpose  of  illustration  in  the 
London  Philatelist,  as  no  "  word  picture  "  can  convey  an  adequate  idea  of  this 
rare  and  curious  "Error." 

The  New  Zealand  Postal  Revenue  in  1855-6. 

Of  the  number  of  stamps  printed  from  the  three  plates  per  annum  after 
the  first  supply,  consisting  of  the  London-printed  impressions  issued  by  the 
Colonial  Treasurer  to  the  Six  Provinces  in  July,  1855,  and  the  subsequent 
printing  at  Auckland  before  the  close  of  that  year  from  the  plate  of  the  One 
Penny  value,  we  unfortunately  at  present  have  received  no  further  statistics 
from  the  Colony. 

The  face-value,  therefore,  of  the  postal  labels  required  for  the  mail 
service  at  that  time  cannot  accurately  be  estimated. 

With  the  object,  however,  of  judging,  if  possible,  whether  any  consider- 
able quantity  of  "star"  watermarked  paper  could  have  been  consumed  at  the 
early  local  printings  in  Mr.  Richardson's  time,  I  have  investigated  the  New 
Zealand  Parliamentary  Debates  for  1856  concerning  the  Post-office  for  that 
period,  in  order  to  throw  some  light  on  this  obscure  subject. 


40      THE  FIRST  LOCALLY-PRINTED   STAMPS   OF  NEW  ZEALAND. 

Mr.  John  Davies  who,  as  previously  stated,  commenced  printing  for  the 
Colonial  Government  in  February,  1862,  using  "star"  paper,  further 
mentioned  in  his  contribution  to  the  Philatelic  Record,  "  that  he  brought 
out  from  England  what  was  then  considered  to  be  twelve  months'  supply!' 
This  would  doubtless  be  the  four  reams  despatched  by  Messrs.  Perkins, 
Bacon  &  Co.,  on  October  5th,  1861,  and  which  amount  would  probably 
represent  igzo  sheets,  capable  of  producing  ^60,000  labels. 

The  number  of  letters  requiring  to  be  franked  in  the  Colony  with  stamps 
must,  at  that  date,  have  largely  increased  since  1855,  and  I  will  therefore 
submit  for  consideration  the  following  points  : — 

The  Colonial  Government,  we  are  told,  had  a  stock  of  six  reams  of  "  star  " 
paper  with  which  to  start  the  local  printing  of  November,  1855. 

An  amount,  scarcely  exceeding  fve  quires,  of  some  sort  of  paper  was 
then  undeniably  used,  which,  if  out  of  the  supply  of  "star"  paper,  would 
leave  7/5  quires  on  hand. 

That  which  militates  against  the  supposition  that  this  large  supply  of 
"star"  paper  was  used  at  that  period  till  exhausted,  is  the  report  of  the 
Sub-Committee  of  this  Society  before  referred  to,  showing  the  very  early  use 
in  the  Colony  of  the  blue  wove  "foolscap"  paper ;  namely,  of  a  stamp  of 
the  Tivopence  value  of  that  variety,  dated  April  joth,  18^6. 

As  I  have  already  indicated,  there  is  no  evidence  of  a  renewal  of 
the  printing  by  Mr.  Richardson  down  to  February  ist,  18^6.  Therefore, 
as  the  process  was  found  to  be  so  "heavy  and  tedious"  that  no  more  than 
yo  sheets  were  passed  through  the  press  during  the  first  week,  ending 
November  12th,  and  an  additional  j/  only  being  accomplished  by  December 
ijth,  it  scarcely  seems  probable  that  the  balance,  namely,  2j6o  sheets, 
could  have  been  disposed  of  during  the  few  weeks  of  February,  March, 
and  April,  18^6. 

The  gross  revenue  of  the  Postal  Department  was  announced  by  the 
Colonial  Treasurer  in  his  Financial  Statement  for  i8jj-^6  to  have  been, 
"■in  round  figures,  £jooo  os.  od.  a  year." 

A  large  deduction,  probably  half,  must  be  made  from  this  amount  to 
represent  the  collection,  in  cash,  of  postages  on  all  letters  arriving  in  New 
Zealand  at  the  rate  of  Twopetice  per  half-ounce,  according  to  the  regulations 
then  in  force.  Thus  about  £ijOO  os.  od.  may  have  been  obtained,  in  the 
course  of  one  year,  by  the  sale  of  postage  stamps  in  the  Colony. 

A  continuous  printing  from  the  six  reams  of  "star"  paper,  containing  in 
the  aggregate  2880  sheets,  if  it  had  been  employed  for  the  One  Penjiy  and 
Twopence  values  in  the  same  proportion  as  to  number  as  the  London  supply 
of  stamps  had  included,  I  find  works  out  at  ^^j  sheets  of  One  Pen7iy,  at  £\ 
per  sheet,  and  2^jj  sheets  of  Twopenny  stamps,  at  £2  per  sheet,  making  a 
total  face-value  derivable  therefrom  of  ^jj//,  represented  hy  6gi,200  stamps; 
which,  taking  into  consideration  the  moderate  postal  revenue  of  the  Colony 
at  that  time  (and  not  overlooking  the  fact  that  four  reams  per  annum  was  found 
sufficient  as  late  as  the  year  1861),  would  presumably  have  sulificed  for  several 
years,  and  consequently  would  have  rendered  the  use  of  the  "foolscap" 
paper  for  printing  in  April,  18^6,  absolutely  unnecessary. 

Of    course  my   argument  carries   with  it  the  suggestion   that  216   One 


THE   O.S.   STAMPS  OF  NEW  SOUTH  WALES. 


41 


Penny  stamps  {out  of  a  sheet  of  2^0),  printed  on  "  star"  paper,  were  issued  with 
the  first  locally-printed  impressions. 


In  dealing  with  the  history  of  the  postal  issues  of  New  Zealand,  as 
matters  now  stand,  it  is  unfortunately  inevitable  that  conjecture,  to  a  certain 
extent,  must  enter  into  any  discussion  upon  them. 

I  think,  however,  that  I  shall  be  expressing  the  wish  of  all  Philatelists  if  I 
say  that  we  hope  to  hear  further  from  New  Zealand  and  its  collectors  about 
these  interesting  stamps. 


€\t  #.S,  Stamps  of  ilcin  %m\\  SHiilts. 


By  N.S.W.  and  crown, 
(^Continued  from  page  5.) 


the  time  of  issue  I  was  residing  in  Tasmania,  and  was  in  a 
position  to  obtain  large  numbers  of  O.S.  New  South  Wales 
stamps  from  official  correspondence,  and  I  distinctly  re- 
member obtaining  quantities  of  the  3d.  and  8d.  (referred 
to  later  on)  with  the  overprint  in  red.  Of  the  2d,,  however, 
but  one  or  two  copies  came  to  hand. 
The  authorities  at  the  Government  Printing-office  are  at  the  present  day 
positive  that  the  is,  was  the  only  value  at  any  time  overprinted  in  red,  in  the 
proper  official  course.  They  are,  however,  prepared  to  admit  that  some  few 
copies  from  supplies  already  issued  in  an  unmarked  state,  might  have  been 
returned  to  the  printing-office  and  overprinted  in  red  ;  but  no  entry  would 
be  made  in  such  case,  as  the  face-value  of  the  stamps  had  already  been 
debited  to  the  cashier,  G.P.O. 

There  can  be  no  doubt,  however,  that  the  first  supplies  of  both  3d.  and 
8d.  were  overprinted  in  red,  and  in  the  ordinary  official  course.  The  number 
of  specimens  of  unquestioned  origin  in  existence,  and  the  testimony  of 
contemporary  collectors  of  unimpeachable  veracity,  are  quite  sufficient  to 
support  the  truth  of  this  statement.  With  regard  to  the  2d,  value,  the 
facts  seem  to  point  either  to  a  small  trial-printing  in  red,  issued  simul- 
taneously with  those  in  black,  or  an  "  irregular  "  printing  on  sheets  previously 
debited.  In  the  latter  case  it  must  be  distinctly  understood  that  the  sub- 
sequent "  regular "  use  of  such  stamps  for  ordinary  official  correspondence 
would  establish  their  claim  to  acceptance  as  genuine  issues,  even  if  the 
overprint  was  obtained  in  red  from  motives  not  wholly  free  from  Philatelic 
suggestion.  As  there  are  several  instances  of  this  "  irregular "  overprinting 
to  be  subsequently  referred  to,  most  of  which  are  absolutely  free  from 
such  suggestion,  the  varieties  mentioned  must  be  accepted  in  all  good 
faith  as  properly  admissible. 

To  return  to  the  issues.  The  first  supply  of  the  3d,  value  was  issued 
to  public  offices  on  the  7th   December,    1879,  and   from  that  date  to  the 


42  THE   O.S.   STAMPS   OF  NEW  SOUTH  WALES. 

15th  March,  1880,  exactly  3,000  of  that  value  were  issued.  On  the  22nd 
March,  1880,  a  further  supply  of  6,000  was  printed,  60  of  which  were  issued 
to  public  offices  on  the  31st  of  that  month.  Without  straining  any  point,  we 
can  accept  these  as  bearing  the  overprint  in  black,  a  colour  which  remained 
unchanged  during  the  existence  of  the  O.S.  stamps. 

On  the  22nd  December,  1879,  there  is  an  entry  of  a  requisition  for  2,500 
8d.  "  plain "  {i.e.,  without  overprint)  stamps ;  but  during  the  same  week  an 
issue    of    590    8d.    stamps    was    made    to   public    offices.      As   no   further 
requisition  for  8d.  stamps  was  made  until  the  22nd  February,   1880,  when 
5,000  with  "  O.S."  were  ordered,  and  as  2,380  were  issued  to  public  offices 
at  various  periods  from  the  22nd  December,   1879,  to  the  22nd  February, 
1880,  it   may   safely  be   asserted    that   the   "plain"   stamps   ordered   were 
surcharged  "  O.S."  in  red,  either  before  being  supplied  to  the  cashier,  on  his 
verbal  requisition, or  in  the  "irregular"  manner  previously  described,  returned 
after  having  been  debited  and  surcharged.     The  comparative  rarity  of  the 
8d.   with   red   overprint,    and   the   undoubted    fact   of   its  being  used   con- 
temporaneously with  the  3d.  red  overprint,  is  sufficient  evidence  to  enable 
us  to  arrive  at  the  conclusion  that  the  2,500  8d.,  of  22nd  December,  1879, 
were  overprinted  "  O.S."  in  red. 

On  the  15th  December,  1879,  a  requisition  was  made  for  1,250  5s. 
"  plain "  stamps.  No  requisition  for  O.S.  5s.  stamps  was  made  until 
31st  January,  1884,  and  yet  14  were  issued  to  public  offices  on  15th 
February,  1880,  and  a  large  number  at  subsequent  dates.  In  this  case, 
also,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  1,250  were  "irregularly"  overprinted, 
the  letters  being  in  black. 

The  next  value  issued  to  public  offices  was  the  5d.,  96  being  supplied 
on  the  7th,  and  24  on  the  31st  May,  1880.     No  requisition  for  O.S.  stamps 
of  that  value  was  sent  to  the  Government  printer  until  the   15th  August, 
i8qo,  although  additional  supplies  of  the  value  were  furnished   to  public 
offices   as    follows:    96  on    15th   November,    1880;    100  on    15th  January, 
1881  ;    100   on   22nd   March,    1881  ;  and   200  on   31st   March,   1885.     Very 
few  5d.  stamps  appear  to  have  been   used  at  any  time  up  to   1880,  and 
the  old   supply,  printed  on   paper  watermarked   with   double-line  figure  g, 
was  sufficient  to  meet  all  demands.     About  1882  the  Crown  N.S.W.  Type  I. 
paper  was  used,  and  shortly  afterwards  that  with  Type  II.      Therefore  the 
first  5d.  stamps  issued  to  public  offices  were  on  "  5  "  paper,  and  the  surcharge 
probably  was  in  red.     This  variety  is  catalogued  by  Collin  and  Caiman,  but 
I  have  never  seen  a  satisfactory  copy.     Still  there  is  so  much  doubtful  about 
some  of  these  "irregular"  varieties,  that  it  is  impossible  to  definitely  support 
or  condemn  any  one  of  them ;  I  can  only  give  all  the  information  available, 
and  make  what  deductions  are  possible.     Collectors  must  to  a  certain  extent 
exercise  their  own  judgment  about  them. 

Next  in  order  of  date  came  the  9d.  and  lod.  values.  These  were  issued 
to  public  offices  "  irregularly "  {i.e.,  without  previous  O.S.  requisition)  on 
the  31st  May,  1880,  the  numbers  being  only  20  of  the  9d.,  and  12  of  the 
lod.  Subsequent  "  irregular  "  issues  to  public  offices  were  made  as  follows  : — 
120  of  each  value  on  the  15th  January,  1881  ;  120  9d.  and  360  lod.  on  the 
22nd   March,   1881  ;   72    lod.  on  the   15th  October,  1881  ;   120   lod.  on  the 


THE   O.S.   STAMPS  OF  NEW  SOUTH  WALES.  43 

30th  November,  1883;  and  40  Qd.  and  48  lod.  on  the  15th  July,  1885; 
and  it  was  not  until  the  30th  June,  1894,  that  these  values  were  requisitioned 
for  as  O.S.  stamps  in  the  regular  way— 60  of  each  being  furnished  on  that 
date.     These,  I  know,  bore  the  surcharge  in  black. 

Now,  with  regard  to  the  gd.  and  lod.  issue  up  to  1885,  the  former  was 
watermarked  Crown  N.S.W.  (Type  I.),  and  the  latter  10,  and  there  is  ground  for 
belief  that  the  surcharge  was  in  red  on  all  supplies.  I  have  seen  undoubtedly 
genuine  copies  of  the  lod.  in  used  condition,  and  also  the  gd.  unused,  but 
for  which  I  could  not  equally  vouch.  It  is,  however,  singular  that  the 
authorities  at  the  printing-office  assert  that  the  red  surcharge  was  never 
applied  to  these  values,  and  that  a  supply  printed  for  exchange  purposes, 
in  November,  1 891, and  surcharged  "Specimen,"  bore  the  "O.S."  in  black.  As, 
however,  no  catalogue  of  earlier  date  than  1895  mentions  these  values  with 
black  surcharge,  other  than  those  with  ''Specimen  "  in  addition  ;  and  further, 
as  I  had  never  seen  or  heard  of  a  copy  with  black  surcharge  prior  to  1891, 
we  must  accept  the  red  surcharge  as  that  of  the  early  "  irregular  "  printings, 
1881-5. 

A  minute  for  the  Executive  Council,  dated  17th  April,  1882,  submitting 
regulations  regarding  the  use  of  the  O.S.  stamps  for  approval,  contains  the 
words  "  printing  thereon  in  black  of  the  letters  '  O.S.,' "  &c. 

On  the  i8th  November,  1885,  the  long  rectangular  fiscal  stamp  of  5s., 
surcharged  "  POSTAGE,"  in  "  erased "  capitals,  was  issued  for  postal  and 
telegraphic  purposes,  although  it  was  not  gazetted  until  the  22nd  December 
following.  The  first  supply  of  O.S.  5s.  stamps  requisitioned  for  subsequently 
to  that  date  consisted  of  300,  on  the  15th  December,  1885.  It  appears 
doubtful  whether  the  long  type  was  immediately  used  for  O.S.  purposes, 
as  the  Inspector  of  Stamps  generally  kept  a  stock  in  hand  to  supply 
requisitions,  and  he  probably  had  some  of  the  circular  stamps  already 
overprinted.  However,  the  long  stamp  is  catalogued  without  reservation, 
and  exists  in  the  set  surcharged  "Specimen"  sold  by  the  G.P.O.  about  1891. 
I  have  never  seen  a  copy  without  "  SPECIMEN,"  either  used  or  unused,  but 
in  default  of  any  more  definite  information,  the  15th  December,  1885,  must 
be  accepted  as  the  date  of  issue.  The  "  O.S."  was  in  black,  but  the  letters  were 
of  an  entirely  new  type,  being  large  ornamental  capitals.  Further  supplies 
of  5s.  stamps  were  issued  to  public  offices  as  follows  :  300  on  26th  April, 
1886;  250  on  22nd  December,  1886  ;  300  on  7th  October,  1887  ;  400  on  15th 
December,  1887  ;  500  on  30th  April,  1888  ;  and  300  on  7th  November,  1888  ; 
a  total  of  2,050.  The  great  rarity  of  this  variety  points  to  one  of  two 
conclusions.  Either  the  issue  of  300  on  15th  December,  1885,  was  the  only 
supply  of  the  type  issued,  and  the  circular  stamps  were  reverted  to,  or  else 
a  large  supply  of  the  circular  type  was  on  hand,  and  only  upon  exhaustion 
was  a  small  supply  of  the  long  type  issued  prior  to  the  issue  of  the 
centennial  5s.  Of  course  the  existence  of  dated  used  copies  would  tend 
to  settle  this  point. 

On  the  7th  January,  1887,  Jive  £1  O.S.  stamps  were  requisitioned  for. 
The  long  £1  fiscal,  surcharged  "  POSTAGE,"  was  issued  to  the  public  on  the 
23rd  November,  1885,  and  this  being  the  only  type  of  that  value  in  existence 
at  the  date  of  the  requisition,  it  must  have  been  the  one  surcharged.     No 


44  THE   O.S.   STAMPS   OF  NEW  SOUTH  WALES. 

further  requisition  for  the  £i  value  with  "O.S."  was  made  until  some  six 
months  after  the  issue  of  the  centennial  stamp.  The  long  ;^i  stamp  with 
"O.S."  in  ornamental  capitals  in  black,  is  found  amongst  the  "Specimen"  set 
of  1 891,  so  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  the  five  issued  for  postal  use 
in  January,  1887,  bore  a  similar  overprint.  This  sJiould  be  one  of  the  rarest 
stamps  known — if  any  of  the  five  are  still  in  existence. 

On  the  1st  May,  1888,  the  id.  and  £\  of  the  centennial  type  were  issued 
to  the  public.  As  printings  of  the  id.  value  for  official  purposes  were  made 
about  every  fortnight,  we  may  take  the  week  ending  7th  May,  1888,  during 
which  60,000  O.S.  id.  were  issued,  as  the  date  of  issue  of  the  centennial  id. 

The  centennial  2d.  was  issued  to  the  public  on  the  ist  September,  1888, 
and  with  "  O.S."  during  the  week  ending  7th  September. 

The  4d.  followed  on  the  8th  October,  1888,  and  with  "O.S."  during  the 
week  ending  15th  October. 

During  the  week  ending  22nd  November,  1888,  20  of  the  _;^i  value  with 
"O.S."  were  issued.  These  were  of  the  centennial  type  on  the  old  g/=  paper, 
and  I  believe  the  overprint  was  in  black. 

The  centennial  6d.  was  issued  on  the  26th  November,  1888,  but  no  O.S. 
of  that  value  were  issued  until  the  week  ending  21st  December. 

The  8d.  was  issued  on  the  17th  January,  1889,  and  with  "O.S."  during 
the  week  ending  15th  March. 

The  centennial  is.  was  issued  to  the  public  on  the  21st  February,  1889, 
and  with  "O.S."  during  the  week  ending  15th  March.  This  stamp  has  been 
chronicled  with  the  "  O.S."  in  red,  but  it  was  never  issued  in  any  other  colour 
than  black. 

The  last  of  the  centennial  series,  the  5s.,  was  issued  to  the  public  on  the 
13th  March,  1889,  being  printed  on  the  old  S)h  paper.  100  copies  with  "O.S." 
were  issued  during  the  week  ending  30th  April.  The  overprint  was  in  red, 
if  the  evidence  of  several  apparently  genuine  copies  I  have  seen  can  be 
accepted.  The  colour  of  the  stamp  is  a  greyish  purple  ;  the  printing  is 
spotty,  and  the  letters  "O.S."  are  lightly  printed,  and  have  a  thin  appearance. 
The  perforation  is  10.  This  stamp  has  been  catalogued  with  the  surcharge 
in  black,  but  if  it  is  to  be  accepted  as  genuine,  the  red  surcharge  must 
be  rejected,  for  there  was  but  the  one  printing  with  "  O.S."  on  the  old  paper, 
and  then  only  two  sheets  of  50  were  surcharged.  It  is  quite  out  of  the 
question  to  suppose  that  the  two  sheets  were  overprinted  in  different 
colours. 

The  los.  long  fiscal,  surcharged  "POSTAGE,"  was  also  issued  with  the  "O.S." 
in  ornamental  capitals  in  black  during  the  week  ending  30th  April,  1889. 
Ten  were  issued  on  this  occasion,  20  on  the  31st  July,  and  40  on  the  30th 
November,  1889.  During  the  period  1890-4,  191  additional  copies  of  the 
IDS.  value  were  issued,  making  261  in  all. 

The  new  paper  for  the  centennial  5s.  and  20s.  stamps  was  brought  into 

use  in  January,  1890.  That  for  the  5s.  bore  the  watermark  Cjfa.w./  ^"^ 
that  for  the  20s. 


THE   O.S.    STAMPS   OF  NEW  SOUTH  WALES.  45 

The  5s.  was  first  issued  on  this  paper  with  the  "  O.S."  overprint  in  black, 
in  small  type,  during  the  week  ending  15th  February,  1890.  200  were  then 
printed,  300  for  the  week  ending  22nd  August,  and  100  for  the  week  ending 
15th  December,  1890.  1450  were  issued  during  the  period  1891-4,  or  2050 
in  all. 

Ten  of  the  20s.  were  issued  during  the  week  ending  15th  March,  1890, 
and  10  in  1894,  or  only  20  in  all.  The  overprint  was  in  black,  and  in  the 
ordinary  small  type. 

The  "  Postal  Union  "  series  of  |d.,  2id.,  y\d.,  and  I2jd.,  was  issued  to  the 
public  in  1 891-2.  The  ^d.  grey,  with  value  surcharged  in  black,  was  over- 
printed "O.S."  in  black,  on  the  21st  January,  1891,  6,000  being  issued.  With 
the  exception  of  345  for  exchange  purposes,  and  further  overprinted 
"  Specimen,"  no  others  were  printed. 

The  2\6..  received  the  "O.S."  overprint  in  black  on  the  loth  January,  1891 ; 
6,000  being  then  printed,  and  24,000  additional  were  printed  and  issued 
up  to  31st  December,   1894. 

The  7id.  and  I2^d.  were  overprinted  "  O.S."  in  black  on  the  2 1st  January, 
1 891  ;  6,000  of  each  value  being  printed.  No  other  printings  were  made, 
and  this  supply  was  issued  at  various  periods  up  to  December,  1894. 
The  |d.,  grey,  altered  type,  was  overprinted  "  O.S."  in  black  on  the  lOth 
May,  1892,  and  322,000  were  issued  between  that  date  and  the  31st 
December,   1894. 

So  much  for  the  dates  of  issue  of  the  adhesive  stamps.  No  official 
cognizance  is  taken  of  the  varieties  of  paper,  watermark,  perforation,  or 
colour  of  overprint,  so  the  subdivision  of  each  type  under  these  headings 
must  be  carried  out  partly  by  conjecture  and  partly  by  observation  of  the 
stamps  themselves.  For  convenience  of  arrangement  I  will  divide  the  O.S. 
stamps  into  five  classes,  termed:  (i)  The  De  La  Rue  series,  including  id., 
red  ;  2d.,  blue  ;  4d.,  brown  ;  6d.,  lilac ;  gd.,  black  on  brown  ;  lod.,  lilac  ;  and 
IS.,  black.  (2)  The  Perkins  and  Bacon  series,  including  3d.,  green  ;  5d., 
dark  green;  8d.,  yellow;  and  5s.,  purple.  (3)  The  "Postage"  surcharged 
series,  including  5s.,  lilac  and  green;  los.,  lilac  and  carmine;  and  £1,  lilac 
and  carmine.  (4)  The  Centennial  series,  including  id.,  purple  ;  2d.,  blue  ; 
4d.,  brown;  6d.,  rosine ;  8d.,  plum;  is.,  brown-violet;  5s.,  purple;  and  20s., 
blue.  (5)  The  Postal  Union  series,  including  |d.,  grey  and  black ;  |d., 
grey;  2^d.,  ultramarine;  y\d.,  brown  and  black;  and  I2|d.,  vermilion  and 
black. 

Class  I  were  all,  with  the  exception  of  the  lod.,  printed  on  N.S.W.  and 
Crown  paper  of  both  types;  the  id.  and  2d.  on  Stamp  Duty  paper  with 
watermark  N.S.W.  only  (once  to  each  two  stamps) ;  and  the  lod.  on  "  10 " 
paper  alone.  The  perforations  were  numerous,  and  can  only  be  given  in  the 
tabulated  list  at  the  end  of  this  article. 

Of  Class  2,  the  3d.  was  printed  on  N.S.W.  and  Crown  paper,  both  types, 
and  the  "/o"  paper.  This  stamp  has  also  been  catalogued  on  paper  water- 
marked with  double-lined  figure  6.  As  this  watermark  had  been  obsolete 
for  many  years  before  the  introduction  of  the  "O.S."  overprint,  the  variety 
appears  to  be  of  somewhat  doubtful  authenticity.  Still  it  is  possible  that 
a  sheet  or  two  of  remainders  were  unearthed  and  overprinted. 
62^ 


46  THE   O.S.   STAMPS   OF  NEW  SOUTH  WALES. 

The  5d.  was  printed  on  the  paper  watermarked  with  double-lined  figure  5 
up  to  about  1880,  and  subsequently  on  N.S.W.  and  Crown  paper,  both  types. 
The  8d.  was  only  printed  on  the  latter  papers,  and  the  5s.  only  on  that  water- 
marked 5s. 

Class  3  were  only  on  the  Stamp  Duty  paper  specially  prepared  for  the 
long  series  of  fiscal  stamps  watermarked  with  the  letters  N.S.W.  The  paper 
of  the  los.  is  distinctly  bluish,  that  of  the  5s.  and  20s.  less  markedly  so,  and 
it  is  also  quite  white  in  some  instances.  The  word  "  POSTAGE  "  is  in  blue  on 
the  los.,  and  in  black  on  the  other  two  values. 

Of  class  4  the  values  up  to  is.  were  all  on  N.S.W.  and  Crown  paper, 
Type  II.  only.  The  id.  and  2d.  were  also  on  Stamp  Duty  paper,  and 
the  5s.  and  20s.  were  at  first  on  the  old  5s.  watermarked  paper,  and 
subsequently  on  the  new  papers  specially  prepared  for  each  value  respectively. 

Class  5  were  all  on  the  N.S.W.  and  Crown  paper,  Type  II.  only. 

In  1894  it  was  decided  to  abolish  the  system  of  franking  correspondence 
by  means  of  O.S.  stamps,  and  to  substitute  a  cover  marked  "  O.H.M.S.,"  and 
the  name  of  the  department  using  it.  The  new  system  came  into  force  on 
the  1st  January,  1895,  and  the  Gazette  notice  was  as  follows  : — 

[9893]  "  Postal  and  Electric  Telegraph  Department, 

"  General  Post  Office,  Sydney, 
"  \()th  December,  1894. 

"It  is  hereby  notified,  for  public  information,  that  His  Excellency  the  Governor, 
with  the  advice  of  the  Executive  Council,  has  been  pleased  to  approve  of  the 
adoption,  from  the  ist  January,  1895,  of  the  following  Regulations,  in  lieu  of  those 
now  in  force,  relative  to  the  prepayment  of  postage  on  official  correspondence  by 
means  of  O.S.  Stamps,  which  practice  will  be  discontinued  from  the  date  mentioned : — 

"  I.  All  official  correspondence  despatched  from  Public  Officers  shall  be  allowed 
to  pass  through  the  Post  as  duly  prepaid,  provided  that  the  envelopes  or  covers  bear 
the  endorsement  'O.H.M.S.,'  with  the  name  of  the  Department,  or  branch  thereof, 
from  which  they  emanate,  in  the  lower  left-hand  corner. 

"  2.  Postmasters  and  others  will  consider  Official  letters,  &c.,  marked  in  the 
manner  above-described,  as  prepaid. 

"3.  The  cover  of  any  letter,  &c.,  purporting  to  be  an  Official  one,  that  may  be 
posted  and  found  not  to  conform  with  the  above  regulations,  will  be  specially  obtained 
from  the  addressee,  and  the  circumstances  reported  to  the  Department  concerned. 

"  4.  Any  Official  found  guilty  of  improperly  using  an  Official  envelope  or  cover  for 
private  correspondence,  or  any  other  private  purpose  whatsoever,  will  be  dismissed  the 
Service. 

"  5.  Any  Postmaster  having  reason  to  believe  that  these  regulations  are  being  availed 

of  by  Officials  or  others  for  private  correspondence,  shall  make  a  special  report  of  the 

circumstances  to  the  Deputy  Postmaster-General. 

"Joseph  Cook." 

At  the  time  the  O.S.  stamps  system  was  abolished,  large  quantities 
of  the  stamps  were  in  the  various  Government  Departments.  As  these  had 
been  obtained  on  requisition,  and  their  face-value  debited  to  the  votes  of  the 
respective  departments,  it  was  necessary,  in  order  to  avoid  confusion  of 
accounts,  to  recall  and  destroy  them.     This  was  done;   the  stamps  being 


THE   O.S.   STAMPS   OF  NEW  SOUTH  WALES.  47 

treated  as  "  spoiled  and  repurchased,"  and  burnt  in  the  presence  of  an  audit 
official. 

In  addition  to  these  stamps  there  were  a  number  in  the  hands  of  the 
Distributor  of  Stamps  (G.P.O.),  in  readiness  to  meet  requisitions.  Some 
collectors  and  dealers  having  expressed  a  desire  to  purchase  these 
remainders,  authority  was  obtained  to  sell  them  in  the  ordinary  way  over 
the  stamp  sales  counter  at  face-value,  on  the  distinct  understanding  that 
they  were  not  to  be  available  for  postage. 

The    Gazette   notice    relating   to   the   sale   of   these  remainders  is  here 

given  : — 

"  Postal  and  Electric  Telegraph  Department, 
"General  Post  Office,  Sydney, 
"  2.2nd  y^uly,  1895. 

"  His  Excellency  the  Lieutenant-Governor,  with  the  advice  of  the  Executive 
Council,  has  approved  of  the  balance  of  O.S.  (On  Service)  stamps  in  the  hands 
of  this  Department,  remaining  unissued  on  the  substitution  of  the  '  Frank '  System 
for  that  of  prepayment  of  official  postage  by  means  of  O.S.  stamps,  being  sold 
to  stamp  collectors  and  others  at  face-value,  on  the  understanding  that  they  cannot 
be  used  for  postage. 

"  The  stamps  available  for  the  purpose  are  :  Adhesive  stamps  (of  the  same  type 

as  the  current  postage  stamps),  ^d.,  id.,  2d.,  2|d.,  3d.,  4d.,  6d.,  yid.,  8d.,  is.,  i2|d., 

and  5s. ;  post  cards,  id. 

"Joseph  Cook." 

These  stamps  were  genuine  original  remainders,  and  were  (and  are  still) 
sold  at  face  value  in  an  uncancelled  condition.  There  was  but  a  small 
supply  of  the  5s.  value,  which  soon  was  sold  out ;  but  all  the  others  are 
still  on  sale. 

However,  this  supply  did  not  contain  sufficient  varieties  to  meet  the 
demands  of  collectors,  who  clamoured  for  the  obsolete  types,  and  especially 
the  red  surcharges.  With  a  desire  to  meet  this  demand  the  Department 
determined  to  reprint  such  varieties  as  were  not  then  in  stock,  and  furnish 
them  to  collectors.  The  face-value  of  a  complete  series  was  nearly  £6,  and 
as  this  price  would  be  beyond  the  reach  of  most  collectors,  and  as  the  audit 
regulations  forbade  the  sale  of  uncancelled  stamps  at  less  than  face-value, 
it  was  decided  to  obliterate  the  stamps  with  an  undated  cancelling  mark, 
consisting  of  the  letters  "N.S.W."  in  three  concentric  ovals,  and  to  sell  the  sets 
at  £2  each.  One  thousand  sets  were  printed,  and  all  were  cancelled  without 
a  single  exception.  900  sets  bore  the  above-described  obliteration,  and  lOO 
were  cancelled  with  "G.P.O."  in  three  concentric  ovals  for  gratis  distribution 
to  other  postal  administrations.     The  following  is  the  Gazette  notice : — 

"  Postal  and  Electric  Telegraph  Department, 
"  General  Post  Office,  Sydney, 
"  i^th  August,  1895. 

"  His  Excellency  the  Lieutenant-Governor,  with   the   advice   of  the  Executive 

Council,  has  approved  of  the  sale,  to  stamp  collectors  and  others,  of  complete  sets 

of  obliterated  O.S.  stamps,  at  the  price  of  jQ2  per  set. 

"Joseph  Cook." 


4^  T^^   O.S.   STAMPS   OF  NEW  SOUTH  WALES. 

It  is  unnecessary  for  me  to  advert  at  any  length  to  the  storm  of  indigna- 

TZ^t^  '''^  ''"''  ""^  '^'  '''"'^^^'^  J°"^"^l^  ^'  ^his  action  of  the  Lw 
South  Wales  Department.     Suffice  it  to  say  that  after  about  250  of  the  900 

o  ceirM     '  T     f  °'  '''  '°°  ^"^^"^  ^^^^  '"'''  ^'^^"b"t^d'  •'  was  decided 
to  cease  the  sale  of  stamps  which  had  been  provided  to  meet  a  very  real 

demand,  as  was  evidenced  by  the  expenditure  of  ;^500  on  them  by  collectors 
who  were  fully  aware  of  their  character.  However  much,  as  Philatel  sts 
Z^r'.fZ'  the  reprinting  of  these  stamps,  we  have  only  our  own  fellow-' 
hobbyists  to  blame,  for  had  it  not  been  for  the  demands  of  certain  collectors, 
and  their  su^s^esttons,  the  series  would  never  have  been  prepared 
The  withdrawal  was  announced  in  the  following  terms  :— 

"Postal  and  Electric  Telegraph  Department, 
"General  Post  Office,  Sydney, 
"  i8/'/4  MarcA,  1896. 
"With  reference  to  the  authority  for  the  sale,  to  stamp  collectors  and  others 
ilZT':   ^^^°l°'^'•^-f    O-S-    postage  stamps,  at '^.    per  set,  adve  ti    d 
LX      I      7        T  ""^"'  ^^''  "^  ^^^  ^5th  August  last,  it  is  hereby  notified 
PProved  of  tt^T  ^%^°^^^°°^'  -^^  ^h^  advice  of  the  Executive  Council,  has 
approved  of  the  sale  of  these  stamps  being  discontinued. 

"Joseph  Cook." 

The  remaini^ng  650  £2  sets  were  burnt,  and  the  balance  of  the  gratis  sets 
were  surcharged  "  Specimen  "  in  addition  to  the  "  G.P.O."  obliteration 
Hence  it  will  be  seen  : — 

of  tLT^'n'tT'  r  "'^"'"''  °^  '^'^  ^"^"^^  mentioned  in  the  Gazette  notice 
ot  the  22nd  July,  1895. 

h.nH   ^r  "ir  '^^"  ^°°  °^  '"'^  °^  '^^  '■^P'-^^ted  stamps  have  got  into  the 
hands  of  collectors  and  others. 

3.  Every  reprint  is  cancelled. 

4-  Uncancelled  O.S.  stamps  are  necessarily  originals 

.t.L^7V^  '^'  ^^"'^''^"  °^  '^'  '"'P^'"'^  ^'^  '"fi'^'tely  rarer  than  original 
stamps  of  the  same  type,  and 

6.  Pace  fraudulent  manipulation,  the  reprints  bear  the  obliteration  of  a 
portion  of  the  cancellation  described  in  one  of  the  four  corners ;  the  stamps 
having  been  cancelled  in  blocks  of  four,  the  impression  being  placed  in  the 
centre  of  each  block  ;  and  the  stamps  are  gummed. 

If  these  facts  are  committed  to  memory  no  collector  need  be  afraid 
ot  taking  a  reprint  for  an  original. 

of  adhlli'  '  o'q'  "'""  ^"'"'''  ^"PPlement  this  paper  with  a  reference  list 
of  adhesive  O.S.  stamps,  and  later  on  give  full  particulars  with  regard  to 
tfte  U.S.  post  cards,  stamped  envelopes,  and  wrappers. 


"^W^ 


[      49     ] 


®aasi0na;l  MoUs. 


THE  TAPLING  COLLECTION. 
HE  Duke  of  York,  attended  by  the  Honorary  Secretary  of  the 
Philatelic  Society,  London,  visited  the  British  Museum  on  Monday, 
15th  February,  for  the  purpose  of  inspecting  the  collection  of  stamps 
bequeathed  to  the  nation  by  the  late  Mr.  T.  K.  Tapling,  M.P.  H.R.H.  was 
received  by  Sir  Edward  Thompson,  the  Secretary,  and  Chief  Librarian  of 
the  Museum,  and  proceeded  to  the  Cracherode  room,  where  the  collection 
was  shown  and  explained  by  Mr.  E.  D.  Bacon.  The  stamps  which  H.R.H. 
examined  with  the  greatest  interest  were  those  of  Great  Britain  and  the 
British  Colonies. 


LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION. 
INCE  the  issue  of  the  prospectus  the  following  further  medals  have  been 
offered    to    the    Committee,  and    will    be   awarded    according   to  the 
decision  of  the  judges  : — 

By  the  City  of  London  Philatelic  Club. — One  Gold,  one  Silver,  and  one 
Bronze  medal,  for  the  three  best  collections  of  2ised  postage  stamps  of  the 
British  Colonies,  shown  in  any  sort  of  album. 

By  Messrs.  Whitfield  King  &  Co. — One  Silver,  and  one  Bronze  medal,  for 
the  two  best  collections  of  postage  stamps  in  use  on  ist  January,  1890,  or 
issued  since  that  date,  shown  in  any  kind  of  album. 

By  Messrs.  W.  Brown  and  S.  C.  Skipton. — A  Silver  medal  for  the  best 
collection  of  the  surcharged  postage  stamps  of  the  Straits  Settlements  (Bang- 
kok, Johore,  Pahang,  Perak,  Selangor,  Sungei  Ujong,  and  Negri  Sembilan). 

By  Mr.  Gordon  Smith. — A  Silver  medal  for  the  best  collection  of  the 
departmental  surcharged  stamps  of  South  Australia  (not  including  the  O.S. 
surcharge. 

THE  PHILATELIC  CLUB  AND  EXCHANGE,  LIMITED. 

E  have  received   the  following  communication   with  a  request   for   its 
publication  in  the  columns  of  the  London  Philatelist : — 

"  Philatelic  Club  and  Exchange,  Limited,  40,  yermyn  Street- 
"  Dear  Sir, — As  our  names  have  been  extensively  advertised  in  connection  with 
the  above  Club,  we,  having  been  elected  by  the  members  as  the  Committee  of 
Management,  desire  to  make  known  to  Philatelists  generally  that  we  have  resigned 
our  membership.  We  therefore  are  no  longer  responsible  in  any  way  whatever  for  the 
management  of  the  Club,  and  our  connection  with  it  has  entirely  ceased. 

"  H.  Houston  Ball,  W.  G.  Hawkins, 

"Bruce  Cornford,  Samuel  Rawson, 

"W.  R.  Umfreville  Ridout,  W.  T.  Willett. 

"26M  January,   1897." 

(i2b    * 


[      50     1 


lt\xf  Issues. 


NOTES    OF   NEW,    AND    VARIATIONS  OF   CURRENT,    ISSUES. 
(Varieties  of  Obsolete  Stamps,  and  Discoveries,  will  be  found  under  "Philatelic  Notes.") 

IVe  do  not  profess  to  chro7iicIe  everything,  but,  with  the  kind  help  of  correspondents,  are  desirous  that 
all  the  iviportant  novelties  may  be  included.  Speculative  stamps — i.e.  those  not  really  required  for 
postal  piuposes — will  be  considered  on  their  7nerits,  and  Jubilee  issues  will  not  be  chronicled. 

Members  of  the  London  Philatelic  Society,  and  other  readers  generally,  are  invited  to  co-operate  with  us 
in  making  the  columns  as  interesting  as  possible.  Our  foreign  readers  can  especially  help  us  in 
this  direction,  by  sending  copies  of  any  official  documents  relative  to  changes  in  the  current  issues, 
or  early  intimation  of  any  new  issue,  accompanied,  when  possible,  by  a  specimen  ;  such  information 
will  be  duly  credited  to  the  correspondent,  and,  if  desired,  the  specimen  promptly  returned. 
Address:  Editor  "London  Philatelist,"  Effingham  House,  Arundel  Street,  Strand, 
London,  W.C. 


BRITISH    EMPIRE. 

British  Central  Africa. — We  hear  of 
various  changes  here.  The  /.  B.  J.  states 
that  adhesives  of  2s.,  4s.,  and  los.  have  been 
issued,  also  that  the  colours  of  the  2s.  6d., 
3s.,  5s.,  and  £,\  stamps  have  been  changed, 
and  from  Le  C.  de  T.-P.  the  news  comes 
that  a  IS.  provisional  has  been  made  by 
printing  the  ^i  stamp  in  blue,  and  sur- 
charging the  new  value  in  red.  We  give 
the  above  on  the  authority  of  our  contem- 
poraries, and  presume  all  the  varieties  are 
on  the  new  Crown  &  C  C  paper  ? 

The  following  colours  are  taken  from  the 
A.  J.  of  Ph.:— 

Adhesives.       2S  ,  black  and  green  on  rose. 

2S.  6d.,  brown  and  violet  onyelltnv. 

3s.,  green  and  lilac  on  bhie. 

4s.,  red  and  blue  on^rtv?/. 

5s.,  red  and  green, 
los.,  green  and  carmine  on  rose. 
£1,  black  and  blue. 

IS.  on  ^i,  blue  ;  red  surcharge. 

British  East  Africa. — We  illustrate  the 
stamp  on  the  Registration  envelope,  chroni- 
cled in  December  last. 


Just  as  we  are  going  to  press  Messrs. 
Whitfield  King  and  Co.  send  us  a  batch  of 
fresh  provisionals,  consisting  of  the  new 
Zanzibar  stamps,  with  the  usual  "  British " 
"East"  "Africa"  surcharge  in  three  lines. 
We  have  the  ^  anna,  2,  4-h,  5,  and  7^  annas 
so  decorated,  and  the  i  anna  and  3  annas 


stamps  with  the  additional  "  2^ "  surcharge, 
the  former  having  two  varieties  of  2 — one 
with  a  curly  tail,  the  other  a  straight  tail ; 
and  our  correspondents  inform  us  that  there 
is  at  least  one  more  variety  of  the  "  2^ " 
surcharge.  It  is  time  that  the  business  was 
investigated  ;  and  now  that  the  two  Post- 
offices  have  each  a  complete  series  of  ad- 
hesives, it  would  appear  that  either  there  is 
gross  negligence  in  allowing  the  stock  of 
stamps  to  become  so  low  as  to  necessitate 
such  wholesale  overprinting,  or  else  the 
matter  is  one  for  the  careful  attention  of 
the  S.S.S.S.  We  incline  to  the  belief  that 
the  latter  is  the  correct  treatment  these 
stamps  require. 

Adhesives. 

i  anna,  green  and  red  ;  black  surcharge. 

2  annas,  brown  and  red      ,,  ,, 

42     ,,       orange  and  red      ,,  ,, 

5       ,,       bistre  and  red       ,,  ,, 

73     ,,       purple  and  red      ,,  ,, 

"  2  J  "  {in  bro^vti)  on  i  anna,  deep  blue  and  red  ;  black 
surcharge. 

"  22"  ('»  brown)  on  3  annas,  grey  and  red  ;  black  sur- 
charge ;  straight  tail  to  2. 

"  2i  "  (in  bro'ivn)  on  3  annas,  grey  and  red  ;  black  sur- 
charge ;  curly  tail  to  2. 

British  South  Africa. — Through  the 
kindness  of  Mr.  J.  F.  Jones,  of  the  British 
South  Africa  Company,  we  are  enabled  to 
give  reliable  information  as  to  the  stamps 
at  present  in  use. 

The  new  stamps,  chronicled  in  the  early 
part  of  1896  (vol.  v.,  p.  82),  were,  as  re- 
ported, not  considered  satisfactory,  and 
Messrs.  Waterlow  and  Sons  were  called 
upon  to  re-engrave  the  design.  We  have 
been  shown  a  specimen  of  this.  The  dots 
in  the  four  corners  have  been  omitted,  and 
the  stamp  has  a  somewhat  more  finished 
appearance,  but  we  are  not  surprised  to 
learn    that    a    new    design    altogether   will 


NEW  ISSUES. 


5' 


shortly  be  issued.  The  re-engraved  issue 
consists  of  |d.,  id.,  2d.,  3d.,  4d.,  6d.,  and  8d. 
stamps,  in  the  same  colours  as  the  previous 
issue  of  1895,  with  an  additional  new  ^i 
stamp,  of  similar  design,  but  larger,  the 
value  repeated  in  all  corners  thus  —  ^^i. 
These  stamps,  with  the  exception  of  the 
£\,  have  not  as  yet  been  forwarded  to 
Rhodesia,  but  are  now  in  the  hands  of  the 
Company.  As  soon  as  these  are  sent  out 
no  more  of  this  design  will  be  issued ;  but 
to  meet  the  demand  for  a  smaller  stamp, 
to  correspond  with  the  uniform  colours  now 
being  adopted  by  the  various  South  African 
countries,  an  entirely  new  design,  of  a  hand- 
some, but  not  striking  appearance,  has 
been  engraved,  and  although  we  have  been 
favoured  by  the  sight  of  this  design,  we  are 
not  at  present  at  liberty  to  give  any  further 
details.  We  hope,  however,  at  an  early  date 
to  be  in  a  position  to  illustrate  and  chronicle 
this  permanent  issue. 

The  sheets  of  the  new  ^i  value  are  printed 
in  one  pane  of  60  stamps  (6  rows  of  10)  and 
perforated  16.     No  watermark. 

AdJiesives. 
id.,  olive-black  and  violet ;  re-eiigraved. 
id.,  scarlet  and  emerald 
2d.,  grey-brown  and  mauve 
3d.,  brown-red  and  ultramarine 
4d.,  ultramarine  and  mauve 
6d.,  purple  and  pink 
8d.,  olive-green  and  vio'et  on  buff 
;^i,  black  and  red-brown  on />aie gr 

Canada. — For  some  time  past  the  issue 
of  a  series  of  adhesives,  bearing  a  portrait 
of  Her  Majesty  similar  to  that  on  the  large 
20  c.  and  50  c.  has  been  heralded,  and  we 
learn  from  an  American  contemporary  that 
a  new  contract  for  printing  stamps  for  a 
term  of  five  and  a  quarter  years  has  been 
awarded  to  the  American  Bank  Note  Co. 
of  New  York.  Whether  this  will  be  made 
a  means  of  introducing  these  stamps  has 
yet  to  be  seen,  but  we  are  told  that  the 
commemorations  of  this  year  are  to  figure 
in  the  wherefore  of  the  change,  in  which 
case  we  express  a  hope  that  a  more  appro- 
priate design,  in  keeping  with  the  auspicious 
event,  may  be  decided  upon. 

Ceylon. — The  M.  J.  announces  an  ap- 
parent retouch  of  the  die  employed  for 
stamping  the  5  c.  envelopes.  The  lines  of 
shading  about  the  face  are  heavier,  and 
either  some  fresh  ones  have  been  added,  or 
some  worn  ones  restored  ;  the  most  notice- 
able difference,  however,  is  in  the  corners 
of  the  single-line  frames,  which  have  been 
reset. 

Envelope,     5  c,  dark  blue  on  u'hite^  134  x  109  mm. 


Fiji.  —  A  correspondent  of  the  M.  J. 
furnishes  a  list  of  the  current  stamps,  with 
their  perforations,  as  follows  : — 

id.,  grey  ;  perf.  10. 
id.,  lilac-rose;  perf.  11. 
2d.,  light  green  ;  perf.  11. 
25d.,  brown  ;  perf.  ir. 
4d.,  lilac;  perf.  11X10. 
5d.,  blue;  perf.  iiXio. 
6d.,rose;  perf.  iiXio. 

Indian  Native  States.  —  Cochin. — A 
I  puttan  stamp  of  similar  design  to  the 
1892  issue,  but  larger,  has  been  issued  ;  the 
perforation  is  12. 

Adhesive,     i  puttan,  mauve. 

Trava?icore. — The  M.  J.  informs  us  that 
the  \  chuckram  wrapper  measures  128  x  305 
mm.,  also  that  the  3  ch.  envelope  is  now 
of  laid  paper,  and  both  this  and  the  4  ch. 
have  "  Travancore  Govt."  embossed  on  the 
left  flap. 

Envelopes.     3  ch.,  violet  on  luhite^  I37><79  nim. 
4  ch.,  green  on  cream,  120X94  mm. 

New  South  Wales. — From  the  same 
source  we  learn  that  there  are  the  following 
varieties  to  be  had  : — 

Adhesives.     3d.,  green;  perf.  12. 


gd.  on  lod. 


II. 
12X11. 


perf.  II. 

St.  Helena. — Le  T.-P.  announces  the 
issue  of  the  id.  value  in  the  usual  colonial 

type.  Adhesive,     id.,  green. 

Zanzibar. — Herewith  we  give  illustrations 
of  the  new  set,  as  also  an  illustration  of  the 
watermark.  A  contemporary  announces  the 
perforation  13^,  but  the  two  copies  before  us 
gauge  14  exactly,  as  stated  in  January. 


.■■.l..i„t..h.t..t..,.M..f..r..t.i 

,^5ia:zAiiiziBARjatE. 


The  Philatelic  Record  tells  us  of  a  parting 
surcharge  on  the  i\  annas  Indian  adhesive, 
this  stamp  being  overprinted  with  the  2^ 
used  for  the  2  annas  surcharge,  which 
distinguishes  it  from  the  2\  on  i^  annas 
provisional  used  previous  to  this.     We  are 


52 


NEW  ISSUES. 


not  told  if  the  two  sizes  of  the  "  2  "  are  to  be 
met  with  as  on  the  2  a.  These  were  issued 
for  the  mails  of  Nov.  isth,  17th,  and  25th. 

Adhesives.     2^  on  i\  annas  sepia^  ?  colour,  variety. 


\  anna,  green  and  red. 
I      ,,      dark  blue  and 

red. 

2      , 

red-brown      ,, 

3      > 

grey                ,, 
green-black   ,, 

4i    ■ 
5      > 
7i   . 
8      , 

orange            „ 
bistre              ,, 
purple             ,, 
bronze 

1  rupee,  ultramarine  ,, 

2  rupees,  deep  green  and  red. 

EUROPE. 

Austrian  Levant. — Le  T.-P.  announces 
the  10  and  20  paras  stamps  with  the  per- 
foration 13^  in  place  of  10. 

Adhesives.     lo  paras  on  3  kr.,  green,  black  surch. 
20        ,,         5    ,,     rose  ,,  ,, 

Belgium. — The  lo  c.  Exhibition  stamp 
has  a  change  of  colour. 

Adhesive.     10  c,  dull  lilac. 

France. — The  M.  J.  gives  some  interest- 
ing information  regarding  the  small  figures 
which  have  lately  appeared  in  the  left  lower 
corner  of  the  post  cards.  These  figures  in- 
dicate the  date  of  printing,  the  first  figure 
being  the  date  of  the  year,  and  the  two 
other  figures  the  iveek  of  the  year ;  hence 
"449"  would  indicate  that  the  card  was 
produced  during  the  forty-ninth  week  of 
1894.  Thus  the  lo  c.  card  referred  to  last 
month,  being  numbered  "636,"  the  date  of 
issue  would  be  approximately  August  or 
September,  1896. 

Holland. — We  illustrate  the  new  letter 
cards  chronicled  in  December  last.      The 


second  illustration  is  that  of  the  cards  for 
enclosure,  which  it  will  be  seen  differs 
slightly  from  the  large  size  ones. 

Monaco. — The  A.  J.  of  Ph.  announces 
the  I  c.  changed  in  colour  from  olive-green 
to  pale  green. 

Adhesive,     i  c,  pale  green. 

ROUMANIA. — Le  T.-P.  announces  the  25 
bani  Delivery  stamp  in  vermilion,  and  per- 
forated 13^ ;  but  we  see  other  papers  mention 
the  perforation  as  being  13. 

Delivery  Stamf.     25  bani,  vermilion. 

AMERICA. 

Mexico. — Mr.  R.  C.  F.  Schomberg  has 
sent  us  the  2  c.  postal  Union  Card,  with  the 
inscription  "  PARA  LOS  estados  unidos  y 
CANADA"  added  on  either  side  in  two  vertical 
lines  of  sans-serif  capitals,  the  addition  being 
in  green.  The  card  is  reported  as  available 
to  the  countries  named  07ily,  but  with  an 
extra  i  c.  stamp  the  copy  before  us  reached 
London  {%)id  New  York). 

Post  Card.     2  c,  carmine  and  green  on  huff. 

Panajia. — We  have  received  from  Messrs. 
Whitfield  King  and  Co.  the  50  c.  stamp 
described  in  our  December  number.  The 
perforation  of  this  stamp  should  be  12,  and 
not  II I  as  stated. 

OTHER  COUNTRIES. 

Curacao. — We  have  omitted  to  chronicle 
the  20  c.  Unpaid  Letter  stamp  of  the 
current  type,  perf.  12. 

Uvpaid  Letter  Stamp.     20  c,  black  and  green. 

Fernando  Po.  —  A  somewhat  extra- 
ordinary fiscal-postal  has  been  created  by 
the  addition  of  the  accompanying  micro- 
scopic surcharge  to  the   lo  c.  fiscal-stamp. 


CORREOS 

CEiTAVflS 


This  surcharge  is  to  our  mind  on  a  par 
with  the  rumoured  speculative  condition  of 
the  postal  arrangements  in  this  colony. 

Fiscal-Postal.    5  c.  on  10  c,  carmine,  blue  surch.,  imferf. 

Hayti. — Three  more  values  are  to  be 
added  to  the  list  of  those  stamps  which  ha\e 
been  re-engraved,  all  perf.  13^. 

Adhesives.     i  c,  light  blue. 
7  c,  slate, 
ao  c,  orange. 


NEW  ISSUES. 


53 


Liberia.  —  We  are  indebted  to  the 
Philatelic  Record  for  the  accompanying 
illustrations  of  the  stamps  described  last 
month  : — 


^^)MHH»HH^,HILJH1IIJ^ 


••MMMM 


i' 


WOTVVMVOT** 


Orange  Free  State.— The  A.J.  of  Ph. 
has  received  a  new  setting  of  the  "  halve 
penny"  provisional.  The  error  "peuny" 
has  been  corrected,  and  the  position  of  the 
bar  cancelling  the  original  value  has  been 
altered,  and  as  a  result  on  most  of  the 
sheets  the  top  row  is  without  the  bar,  while 
the  other  rows  have  the  bar  at  the  top  of 
the  stamp  instead  of  through  the  value. 

Messrs.  Whitfield  King  &  Co.  send  us 
the  permanent  |d.  value  printed  in  orange 
also  a  new  provisional  "  25 "  on  3d.,  dis- 
tinguished from  the  previous  surcharge  by 
the  omission  of  the  "  d." 

Adhesives.     Jd.,  orange. 

■2.\  on  3d.,  blue  ;  black  surcharge. 

Portuguese  Colonies. — We  annex  an 
illustration  of  the  new  stamps  for  Angra, 
Funchal,  Horta,  and  Ponta  Delgada,  de- 
scribed last  month. 


Surinam. — The  issue  of  the  40  Unpaid 
Letter  stamp  in  Type  L  is  announced, 
perf  \2\. 

Unpaid  Letter  Stamp.     40  c,  lilac  and  black,  Type  I. 

Transvaal.  —  With  reference  to  the 
remarks  in  our  November  and  December 
numbers,  Mr.  Jeppe  writes  us,  enclosing  a 
letter  from  the  Postmaster  -  General  of 
Pretoria,  to  the  effect  that  the  5s.  and  10s. 
values  in  two  colours  are  not  yet  required, 
and  hence  are  not  even  ordered,  the  stock 
of  one  colour  stamps  now  in  use  being 
sufficient.  Mr.  Jeppe  further  points  out  that 
when  issued  the  colour  of  the  los.  stamp 
will  be  light  grey  and  green,  as  being  the 
colours  adopted  by  agreement  with  Cape 
Colony.  (Vol.  v.,  p.  142.) 

The  5s.  adhesive  has  also  the  value  in  the 
singular— thus  "  5  SHILLING." 


[       54       ] 


^Ijilattlic  Sorulies'  ^cietings. 


THE  PHILATELIC  SOCIETY,   LONDON. 


Honorary  President — H.R.H.  The  Duke  of  Saxe-Coburg  and  Gotha,  K.G.,  6cc. 

Council  for  the  Year  1895-96 : 

President— H.K.li.  The  Duke  of  York,  K.G. 

Vice-President — iM.   P.   Castle. 

Hon.  Secretary — ^J.  A.   TiLLEARD.  I  Hon.  Assistant  Secretary — R.  Pearce. 

Hon.    Treasurer — C.   N.   BiGGS.  |  Librarian — T.   Maycock. 

E.  D.  Bacon.  |  E.  B.  Evans.  I         T.  Wickham  Jones. 

R.  Ehrenbach.  D.  Garth.  H.  R.  Oldfield. 


The  twelfth  meeting  of  the  season  1896-7 
was  held  at  Effingham  House  on  Friday  the 
22nd  January,  1897,  at  7.45  p.m.,  the  following 
members  being  present,  viz.  :  Messrs.  R. 
Ehrenbach,  Gordon  Smith,  A.  R.  Barrett, 
R.  Meyer,  T.  W.  Hall,  G.  B.  Routledge, 
H.  Hetley,  H.  P.  Hudleston,  R.  Pearce, 
T.  Maycock,  and  J.  A.  Tilleard. 

The  chair  was  occupied  by  Mr.  Ehrenbach, 
in  the  absence  of  the  Vice-President,  and 
the  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read 
and  confirmed. 

The  business  of  the  evening  consisted  of 
a  discussion  on  "  The  Position  of  Reprints 
available  for  Postage,"  opened  by  Mr. 
Meyer.  The  subject  proved  to  be  one  of 
considerable  interest,  and  a  vote  of  thanks 
was  accorded  to  Mr.  Meyer  for  introducing 
the  discussion,  the  resolution  being  proposed 
by  Mr.  Gordon  Smith  and  seconded  by  Mr. 
Pearce. 

The  thirteenth  meeting  of  the  season  was 
held  at  Effingham  House  on  Friday  the 
29th  January,  1897,  at  7.45  p.m.  The  mem- 
bers in  attendance  were  :  Messrs.  E.  D. 
Bacon,  R.  Ehrenbach,  R.  Tyeth  Stevens, 
A.  R.  Barrett,  R.  Meyer,  W.  Silk,  G.  B. 
Routledge,  E.  J.  Nankivell,  R.  Pearce,  T. 
W.  Hall,  J.  A.  TiUeard,  Gordon  Smith,  C. 
McNaughtan,  and  B.  D.  Knox. 

In  the  absence  of  the  Vice-President,  the 
chair  was  taken  by  Mr.  Bacon,  and  the 
minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and 
confirmed. 

Mr.  E.  H.  Selby,  proposed  by  Mr.  B.  Crow- 
der,  and  seconded  by  the  Secretary,  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Society. 


Amongst  other  stamps  produced  for  in- 
spection, Mr.  Hall  showed  a  used  copy  of 
the  Pacific  Steam  Navigation  Company's 
stamp,  in  red  on  blue  paper,  and  a  i  c. 
(black  on  white)  Antioquia  stamp  of  the 
1876  issue,  on  laid  paper,  a  variety  hitherto 
unchronicled. 

Mr.  Ehrenbach  then  gave  a  display  of  his 
unused  collection  of  the  stamps  of  Brazil, 
which  was  exceptionally  strong  in  the  early 
stamps,  and  read  a  series  of  interesting 
notes  on  the  various  issues.  A  discussion 
ensued,  in  the  course  of  which  Mr.  Bacon 
called  attention  to  the  question  of  the 
different  types  to  be  found  in  the  first 
three  issues,  and  invited  an  investigation  by 
Mr.  Ehrenbach  into  the  subject,  on  which 
very  little  is  at  present  known. 

On  the  motion  of  Mr.  Nankivell,  seconded 
by  Mr.  Hall,  the  hearty  thanks  of  the  meet- 
ing were  voted  to  Mr.  Ehrenbach  for 
showing  and   explaining  his   stamps. 


The  fourteenth  meeting  of  the  season  was 
held  at  Effingham  House  on  Friday  the  5th 
February,  1897,  at  7.45  p.m.,  and  was 
attended  by  the  following  members,  viz.: 
Messrs.  E.  D.  Bacon,  R.  Ehrenbach,  G.  B. 
Routledge,  R.  Meyer,  R.  Frentzel,  H. 
Hetley,  G.  J.  Nankivell,  R.  Pearce,  Gordon 
Smith,  C.  N.  Biggs,  J.  A.  Tilleard,  T. 
Wickham  Jones,  A.  R.  Barrett,  T.  Maycock, 
and  B.  D.  Knox. 

The  chair  was  taken  by  Mr.  Bacon,  in 
the  absence  of  the  Vice-President,  and  the 
minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and 
confirmed. 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'   MEETINGS. 


55 


The  Secretary  reported  the  receipt  of  in- 
formation of  the  death  of  Mr.  H.  W.  Bolland, 
an  announcement  which  was  received  with 
great  regret. 

The  request  of  the  Committee  of  the 
Exhibition  that  the  Council  should  under- 
take the  duty  of  deciding  upon  applications 
for  special  positions  for  advertisements  in 
the  Exhibition  Catalogue,  in  the  case  of  the 
number  of  applications  exceeding  the  num- 
ber of  special  positions  available,  was  re- 
ferred to  the  Council. 

Mr.  Routledge  then  opened  a  discussion 
on  the  early  stamps  of  the  Dutch  Colonies, 
reading  a  series  of  notes  on  the  issues  of 
Curagoa,  Surinam,  and  the  Dutch  Indies, 
dealing  chiefly  with  the  questions  of  the 
paper  and  perforations,  and  explaining  the 
plates  employed,  and  the  types  and  varieties 
to  be  found  in  these  interesting  stamps. 
His  remarks  were  illustrated  by  his  own 
collection  of  the  stamps  of  the  countries 
referred  to,  in  which  nearly  all  the  varieties 
to  be  found  are  represented,  and  on  the 
motion  of  Mr.  Gordon  Smith,  seconded  by 
Mr.  Meyer,  the  hearty  thanks  of  the  meeting 
were  voted  to  Mr.  Routledge  for  introducing 
the  subject  for  discussion,  and  for  affording 
the  members  present  an  opportunity  of 
inspecting  his  collection. 


The  fifteenth  meeting  of  the  season  was 
held  at  Effingham  House  on  Friday,  the 
1 2th  February,  1897,  at  7.45  p.m.,  when  the 


following  members  were  present,  viz.  : 
Messrs.  E.  D.  Bacon,  R.  Ehrenbach,  H.  R. 
Oldfield,  R.  Meyer,  G.  B.  Routledge,  W. 
Silk,  A.  A.  Davis,  L.  S.  Wells,  T.  Maycock, 

A.  R.  Barrett,  C.  McNaughtan,  T.  W.  Hall, 
T.  S.  Ranee,  R.  Pearce,  J.  A.  Tilleard,  and 

B.  D.  Knox. 

The  chair  having  been  taken  by  Mr. 
Bacon,  in  the  absence  of  the  Vice-President, 
the  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read 
and  confirmed. 

The  business  of  the  evening  consisted  of 
a  discussion  on  the  best  method  of  arranging 
a  collection,  opened  by  Mr.  W.  Silk,  who 
read  notes  and  suggestions  on  the  subject. 
In  these  Mr.  Silk  considered  in  detail  the 
questions  of  the  size  and  make  of  albums, 
the  nature  of  the  paper  to  be  employed, 
movable  leaves,  quadrille  ruling,  the  manner 
of  mounting,  the  arrangement  of  the  countries, 
and  most  of  the  other  points  which  require 
consideration  in  the  arrangement  of  a  general 
collection.  A  large  number  of  the  members 
presentjoined  in  the  discussion,  and  explained 
their  views  on  many  of  the  matters  of  detail 
referred  to  by  Mr.  Silk,  and  great  interest 
was  shown  in  the  subject,  which  is  one  that 
has  occupied  the  attention  of  collectors  since 
the  commencement  of  the  study  of  Philately. 

On  the  motion  of  Mr.  Ehrenbach,  seconded 
by  Mr.  Hall,  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was 
accorded  to  Mr.  Silk  for  introducing  the 
discussion,  and  for  the  carefully -prepared 
notes  which  he  had  read. 


BIRMINGHAM   PHILATELIC  SOCIETY. 


President — W.  T.  WiLSON,  EsQ. 
Hon.  Sec,  and  Treas. — Mr.  G.  Johnson,  B.A., 

208,  Birchfield  Road,  Birmingham. 


The  January  meeting  was  held  on  the  12th 
of  that  month,  the  President,  Mr.  Oliver 
Firth,  occupying  the  chair,  a  large  number 
of  members  being  present.  The  Hon. 
Secretary  reported  that  the  President  had 
presented  to  the  Society  a  copy  of  his 
new  work  on  Postage  Stamps  and  their 
Collectio7i,  as  had  also  Mr.  H.  L'Estrange 
Ewen  of  his  new  English  Catalogue  and 
Album,  and  Messrs.  Stanley  Gibbons, 
Limited,  of  Part  I.  of  their  new  Catalogue. 


Resolutions  were  duly  passed,  voting  the 
best  thanks  of  the  Society  to  the  donors 
for  their  kind  presents.  After  the  election 
of  three  new  members,  the  President  gave 
a  paper  on  the  largest  size  "  Registered 
Envelope  of  Great  Britain."  The  paper 
was  extremely  interesting  and  instructive, 
showing  great  research  and  labour.  On 
the  termination  of  the  paper,  a  display 
of  English  took  place.  The  next  meeting 
will  be  held  on  the  2nd  February,  1897. 


S6 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


MANCHESTER  PHILATELIC  SOCIETY. 

President — W.   Dorning  Beckton. 
Hon.  Secretary — A.  H.  Harrison. 


The  fifth  meeting  of  the  session  was  held  at 
the  Grand  Hotel  on  Friday,  November  20th. 
The  President  in  the  chair,  supported  by 
seventeen  members  and  three  visitors. 

Mr.  N.  Wanstall  (Netherwood,  Whitefield) 
was  elected  a  member,  Mr.  C.  Taylor  (Liver- 
pool) a  corresponding  member. 

Mr.  Beckton  read  the  first  part  of  his 
paper  on  the  "  Stamps  of  Greece,"  giving 
interesting  details  from  the  Postal  Decrees, 
and  describing  fully  the  printings  of  the  first 
issue. 

Messrs.  Beckton  and  Abbott  exhibited 
their  collections. 


The  sixth  meeting  was  held  on  Friday, 
December  4th.  The  President  in  the  chair, 
supported  by  fourteen  members. 

Mr.  Duerst  announced  that  the  Lotidon 
Philatelist  would  in  future  be  forwarded 
direct  to  members  by  post. 

Mr.  Beckton  continued  his  paper.  He 
gave  the  later  printings  in  detail,  and  ex- 
plained, by  means  of  his  collection  (which 
was  displayed  in  the  frames  belonging  to  the 
society),  the  differences  by  which  they  could 
be  distinguished. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  paper  a  hearty 
vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  to  Mr.  Beckton. 


The  fourth  Annual  Dinner  took  place  at 
the  Grand  Hotel  on  Friday,  December  i8th, 
twenty-six  being  present. 

Mr.  Beckton,  in  a  short  speech,  made 
special  reference  to  the  coming  exhibition  in 
London. 


The  latter  part  of  a  most  enjoyable  evening 
was  devoted  to  music  and  song. 

The  seventh  meeting  of  the  session  was  held 
on  Friday,  January  8th.  The  President 
in  the  chair,  and  sixteen  other  members 
present. 

Mr.  W.  Brown  (Salisbury)  was  elected  a 
corresponding  member. 

Mr.  F.  A.  Prout  (Stockport)  tendered  his 
resignation,  which  was  accepted  with  regret. 

The  Hon.  Secretary  read  the  first  part  of 
his  paper,  dealing  with  the  skilling  issues  of 
Norway,  and  pointed  out  the  varieties,  the 
types,  and  the  mode  of  printing  of  the  various 
issues. 

Messrs.  Harrison's  and  Beckton's  col- 
lections illustrated  the  paper. 


The  eighth  meeting  of  the  session  was  held 
at  the  Grand  Hotel  on  January  22nd.  The 
President  in  the  chair,  supported  by  eleven 
members. 

The  resignation  of  Mr.  T.  L.  Marsden 
was  accepted  with  regret.  Mr.  E.  W. 
Bramwell  (Chorlton-cum-Hardy)  was  elected 
a  corresponding  member. 

The  Hon.  Secretary  read  the  continuation 
of  his  paper  upon  the  "  Stamps  of  Norway." 
He  pointed  out  the  means  by  which  the 
printings  might  be  distinguished  in  the  1877 
and  later  issues,  and  gave  an  account  of  the 
modes  of  printing  adopted  in  Norway  for 
the  later  issues. 

Mr.    Harrison  received  a  hearty  vote  of 
thanks  upon  the  conclusion  of  the  paper. 
Arthur  H.  Harrison,  Hon.  Sec. 

Grasmerb,  Whitefield,  Manchester. 


Corresponbtna. 


We  have  to  defer  the  publiiation  of  the  Utters  we  have  received  for  want  of  space 

until  next  month.  — Ed. 


-*^»x«x*.>.:*.x-:-:-:-:-:-:-;->  «> 


THE 


3Md0tt  fMIat^Ii^t : 


THE    MONTHLY    JOURNAL    OF 


THE    PHILATELIC   SOCIETY,    LONDON. 


Vol.   VI. 


MARCH,    1897. 


No.    63. 


S^l^c  lHjilatelk  Snnetg  ai  |ntrm. 


HE  seeds  of  Philately  are  indigenous  to  every  soil,  and  so 
sturdy  is  the  plant  that  it  seems  to  flourish  in  all  climates 
and  under  all  conditions.  Stamp  collecting  to-day  seems 
almost  as  universal  as  stamp  issuing;  and  those  whose  good 
fortune  has  enabled  them  to  visit  the  various  portions  of  the 
earth  have  found  adherents  to  the  cult  in  the  remotest  corners. 
In  Europe  and  America,  where  the  great  centres  of  life  are 
mostly  within  reasonable  distance  of  each  other,  the  forma- 
tion of  Philatelic  Clubs  and  Societies  has  been  an  outcome 
as  natural  in  conception  as  easy  of  execution.  In  the  other 
Continents,  where  the  European  contingents  are  scattered 
at  wide  intervals,  the  collector  has  generally  been  compelled 
to  pursue  his  amusement  uncheered  or  unaided  by  his  brother  collectors. 
Until  a  quite  recent  period  these  conditions  obtained  in  that  vast  portion 
of  the  globe  entitled  the  Empire  of  India,  where  the  total  population 
of  Europeans  was  but  a  few  hundred  thousand,  hardly  discernible  among 
the  millions  of  the  native  races.  Although  in  many  cases  divided  by  huge 
tracts  of  country,  the  railway  and  telegraph  have  now  done  much  to  lessen 
the  distance  ;  and  the  idea  of  Philatelic  co-operation — as  betokened  by  our 
title — is  no  longer  an  impossibility,  but  shows  good  promise  of  fruition. 

From  the  official  organ  of  the  new  Society — the  Philatelic  Journal  of  India 
— we  gather  that  some  fifty  influential  collectors  from  all  parts  of  the  empire 
have  already  been  enrolled  as  members,  and  that  the  following  have  signified 
their  willingness  to  serve  on  the  Council :  Lady  Collin,  for  the  ladies 
(gallant  Anglo-Indians !) ;  Messrs.  Lyall  and  Norman,  for  Bengal  ;  Major 
Du  Moulin  and  Mr.  Cornwall,  for  the  N.-W.  Provinces ;  Major  Hopkinson 
and    Mr.   G.   A.   Anderson,   for   the   Punjaub ;    Professor  O.  V.   Miiller,   for 


58  THE  PHILATELIC  SOCIETY  OF  INDIA. 

Bombay ;  Surgeon-Major  Harris,  for  the  Central  Provinces ;  and  Lieut.  T. 
E.  Madden,  for  Assam.  Mr.  Stewart-Wilson,  Mr.  Corfield,  and  Mr.  C.  F. 
Larmour  have  agreed,  provisionally,  to  act  as  President,  Treasurer,  and 
Secretary  respectively.  It  is  at  once  evident  that  the  Philatelic  Society 
of  India  will  be  comprehensive  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  and  will  pro- 
bably ere  long  include  in  its  ranks  all  the  best  names  in  India.  The  three 
latter  gentlemen  have  all  high  qualifications  for  the  posts  provisionally 
assigned  to  them,  and  we  hope  they  may  be  confirmed  in  their  holdings. 
A  more  courteous,  able,  or  indefatigable  Hon.  Secretary  than  Mr.  C.  F. 
Larmour  would  be  difficult  to  find — in  India  or  England. 

It  is  wisely  stated  in  the  preliminary  announcements  that  it  is  not 
intended  to  supersede  in  any  manner  the  already  flourishing  Philatelic 
Societies  at  Calcutta,  Bombay,  and  other  cities.  Each  of  these  local  societies, 
where  firmly  established  and  possessed  of  a  respectable  number  of  members, 
should  be  practically  autonomous,  and,  except  on  questions  affecting  the 
whole  body  of  Indian  collectors,  a  perfectly  free  hand  should  be  given. 
Subject  to  this,  there  are  many  ways  in  which  co-operation  will  be  found 
most  useful — notably  in  the  ventilation  of  some  of  the  grievances  that  now 
unduly  oppress  the  soul  of  the  Anglo-Indian  collector. 

One  of  the  advantages  of  the  new  movement  is  already  apparent  in  the 
guise  of  our  new  contemporary,  previously  referred  to  —  the  Philatelic 
Journal  of  India.  We  take  the  liberty  of  heartily  congratulating  its 
editors  on  their  first  appearance.  Excellently  printed,  and  in  size  and 
style  closely  resembling  the  organ  of  the  London  Philatelic  Society,  this 
initial  number  is  smartly  written  throughout,  and  reflects  the  greatest  credit 
on  all  concerned.  Mr.  Stewart-Wilson  commences  an  article  on  the  "  Sur- 
charged Stamps  of  British  India,"  which  is  full  of  interest  and  information, 
and  should  tend  to  make  these  legitimately-issued  stamps  far  more  popular 
than  they  have  been  hitherto.  We  can  but  heartily  congratulate  the 
Philatelic  Society  of  India  on  the  first  appearance  of  their  official  Journal ; 
and,  in  thanking  them  for  the  compliment  they  have  paid  to  their  confreres 
in  London  in  avowing  their  intention  to  follow  the  lines  of  this  Journal, 
we  wish  all  success  to  the  new  Society  and  its  excellent  official  Organ. 


[      59     1 


Clje  icto  gciilanb  "  fotal  f osts,  1SS6 " ; 


ALSO 


otcs  on  lljc  CBarb  giscttion  of  t§^c  ®\n  ^Ijilliug  ITiilue. 

A  Paper  communicated  to  the  Philatelic  Society,  London,  and 
Read  at  the  Meeting  of  March  5th,  1897. 

By  CHARLES  H.  MOTTRAM. 


J^^H^Hr//  SENSE  of  surprise  was  experienced,  I  believe,  among  those 
B^l  '  specially  interested  in  the  past  history  of  the  stamps  of 
i/^|JLV^  New  Zealand,  on  reading  the  information  contained  in 
^^Ppllv  ^y  "  R^iT^^rks  on  the  Early  Postal  Rates  "  *  relative  to  the 
^^^W.  ^^^y  I'f^'ted  use  of  the  One  Penny  on  the  first  issue  of 
■" '        that  value   in   July,    1855  ;    the    natural    expectation   being, 

that  this  stamp  would  have  been  employed  for  half-ounce  letters  for  "  Toivn 
Delivery  "  and,  perhaps,  for  newspapers. 

The  Regulations  at  that  time,  however,  show  that  its  primary,  and 
apparently  only  dona  fide  use  was  for  the  purpose  of  franking  the  private 
correspondence  of  the  non-commissioned  oflScers  and  men  of  Her  Majesty's 
regiments  and  warships  stationed  in  and  around  the  Colony,  and  whose 
*"  letters "  were  never  to  exceed  "  /ml/  an  ounce  in  zveight"  at  a  charge  of 
"  One  Penny  each." 

Therefore  a  comparatively  small  supply  of  these  labels  (12,000  in 
number)  had  been  sent  from  London  with  the  plate. 


As  far  as  I  am  aware,  the  paper  by  Messrs.  A.  T.  Bate  and  E.  D.  Bacon 
on  the  "  Early  New  Zealand  Stamps,"  t  read  before  the  Philatelic  Society, 
London,  March  22nd,  1895,  and  my  own  "Notes"  appearing  in  this  Journal, 
have  not  been  supplemented  during  the  past  two  years  in  any  other  publica- 
tion except  one,  which  included  a  contribution  on  the  subject  of  the  stamps 
of  this  Colony. 

I  refer  to  "  A  Note  on  the  First  Issues  of  New  Zealand,"  in  the  Philatelic 
Record  for  March,  1895,  under  the  signature  "  G.  de  F." 

The  author  reviews  an  abbreviated  report,  given  by  the  Australiati 
Philatelist,X  of  Mr.  Bate's  communication  to  a  meeting  at  Wellington  of 
the  Philatelic  Society  of  New  Zealand,  after  the  latter's  discovery  of  the 
record  of  the  first  locally-printed  stamps  at  Auckland  in   1855. 

Unfortunately  the  Australasian  journal  above  mentioned,  after  noting 
nearly  all  the  items  recited  by  Mr.  Bate,  stopped  at  a  very  important  point, 
and  omitted  to  state  that  the  Colonial  Government  modified  the   original 

*   The  London  Philatelist,  June,  1895.  ■•"  ^l>i'^-,  August,  1895. 

+  The  Australian  Philatelist,  ]dM\3.a.xy,  1895. 


6o  THE  NEW  ZEALAND   ''LOCAL  POSTS,    1856." 

order  to  print  86,000  labels  from  the  plates  of  the  three  values,  and  ultimately 
printed  29,016  One  Penny  stamps  only. 

The  writer  in  the  Record,  therefore,  was  unwittingly  led  to  a  misquotation 
of  the  actual  number  of  stamps  printed,  and  consequently  of  the  quantity 
of  paper  consumed  out  of  the  reported  stock  of  six  reams. 

At  this  stage  of  the  paper  the  author  turns  to  the  summary  *  of  my  first 
contribution  (before  its  appearance  in  full  in  this  Journal  f),  and  urges  that 
"the  natural  inference  is  that"  Mr.  Richardson  "  zuould continue  to  use  the  six 
reams"  of  "star"  paper  sent  from  London,  "so  long  as  it  lasted,  before 
he  had  recourse  to  the  paper  supplied  in  the  Colony" ;  my  argument  to  the 
contrary  being  based  upon  the  Postal  Revenue  Statistics,  1855-6,  of  the 
New  Zealand  Government. 

The  writer  further  suggests  the  year  1858  as  the  date  when  the  supply 
of  "star"  paper  may  have  been  exhausted  and  the  issue  on  blue  wove  paper 
substituted,  and  computes  that  six  reams  of  the  former  would  represent 
"«  quantity  sufficient  to  print  seven  millions  of  stamps"  {!) 

My  paper,  entitled  "The  First  Locally-printed  Stamps  of  New  Zealand," 
read  before  this  Society  in  February  of  last  year,  and  appearing  in  the 
London  Philatelist  of  February,  1897,  refers  on  page  40  to  the  likelihood 
of  the  London  supply  of  paper  lasting  for  several  years,  presuming  that 
it  was  put  into  use  in  1855.  Thus  far  the  author  in  the  Record  and  myself 
are  in  agreement,  and  I  would  gladly  add  the  seven  millions  of  impressions 
in  further  support  of  the  case,  but,  as  shown  in  last  month's  Journal,  I  cannot 
place  to  the  credit  of  six  reams  more  than,  roughly,  seven  hundred  thousand 
(691,200)  labels. 

I  fear  that  by  a  slip  of  the  pen  the  additional  cipher  was  added  to  the 
calculation  by  the  writer.  However,  the  large  deduction  necessary  to  set 
matters  right  can  probably  be  afforded,  without  being  prejudicial  to  my 
view  of  the  question,  especially  when  it  is  remembered  that  the  blue  wove 
paper  was  in  use  in  the  Colony  as  early  as  April,  1856,  two  years  before 
the  time  supposed  by  "  G.  de  F.,"  who  must  have  overlooked  the  Report 
of  1 893  J  of  the  Sub-Committee  of  this  Society,  giving  that  date. 

The  editorial  note  at  the  termination  of  the  contribution  to  the  Record 
recognizes  this  by  the  observation  :  "  What  do  the  dated  specimens  of  the 
2d.  on  blue  paper  say  ?     Let  these  speak,  and  we  shall  all  know  something." 


"The  Local  Posts,  1856." 

"  Posts  and  Postal  Communications  within  the  several  Provinces  of  New 
Zealand"  during  the  first  eighteen  months  after  the  introduction  of  the  system 
of  prepayment  of  postage  by  meaiis  of  stamps,  were,  undeniably,  restricted  to 
the  smallest  possible  compass. 

The  condition  of  the  whole  Department,  in  this  respect,  appears  to  have 
reached  an  acute  stage  in  the  year  1856,  and  the  meeting  of  the  General 
Assembly  in  April  was  made  the  occasion  of  important  changes  in  the 
Postal  Service  of  the  Colony. 

*    The  London  Philatelist,  January,  1895. 
t  Ibid.,  May  and  June,  1895.  %  Ibid.,  October    1894. 


THE  NEW  ZEALAND  '■'LOCAL  POSTS,    1856."  61 

In  the  first  place  ^/le  Post  Office  itself,  in  Auckland,  was  found  to  be 
totally  "  inadequate  to  the  requirements  of  the  public!'  And  to  remedy  this 
condition  of  affairs  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  by  Committee,  reported  to 
the  General  Government  upon  "  the  state  of  the  Post  Office  building,"  which 
it  was  proposed  should  either  be  altered  or  rebuilt. 

"  The  want  of  necessary  space  and  accommodation  "  considerably  delayed 
"  the  delivery  and  despatch  of  letters,"  and  was  referred  to  in  the  House  as 
"  an  intolerable  evil.  The  public  could  not  obtain  their  letters  or  newspapers 
for  many  hours — in  some  cases  days — after  the  arrival  of  an  English  mail. 
The  mercantile  public  especially  suffered  by  such  a  delay,  and  people  from 
the  country  experienced  both  loss  and  disappointment,  as  many  of  them 
came  from  a  distance  solely  to  obtain  letters,  but  could  not  get  them  until 
after  hours  of  dreary  waiting.  The  arrival  of  a  large  mail  created  quite  a 
confusion." 

It  was  eventually  decided  that  the  Post  Office  should  occupy  the 
offices  vacated  by  two  of  the  General  Government  Departments,  and 
after  the  necessary  alterations  to  them  had  been  made,  intimation  was 
given  by  the  following 

"  Notice. 

"The  removal  of  the  Post  Office  from  the  old  building  in  High  Street  to  the 

premises    in     Princes    Street,    lately    the    Treasury    and    Office    of    the    Colonial 

Secretary,  was  effected  yesterday.      The  new  office  will  be  open  this  day,  Friday, 

at  noon.  "  VV.  Corbett, 

' '  Postmaster. 
"3IJ/  October,   1856." 

With  regard  also  to  the  non-"  Town  Delivery "  question  at  this  period, 
the  following  is,  I  think,  conclusive : — 

"  Post  Office,  Auckland, 

"15//^  December,  1856. 

"  Private-Box  Delivery. 

"Subscribers  of  two  guineas  per  annum  will  henceforth  be  entitled  to  have 
Private  Boxes  in  this  Office,  and  to  obtain  their  letters  at  a  separate  delivery  window. 

"W.  Corbett, 

"Postmaster:' 

This,  of  course,  was  especially  intended  for  the  convenience  of  the 
commercial  section  of  the  public,  when  calling  for  their  correspondence. 


I  have  included  in  this  series  of  papers  some  details  concerning  the 
"  Local  Posts,"  solely  on  account  of  the  influence  which  they  exercised  over 
the  use  of  stamps,  namely,  those  represented  by  the  two  lower  values. 

I  submit,  for  instance,  that  it  would  be  interesting  to  ascertain  when 
the  One  Penny  was  first  issued  to  the  general  public  for  the  purpose  of 
franking  Inland  Letters  of  half  an  ounce  weight. 

That  this  latter  event  zvas  one  of  the  results  of  the  legislation  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  18^6,  I  hope  to  be  able  to  show  in  the  course  of  the  following 
remarks.      And  further,    having  recently  met  with    several    early   copies  of 


62  THE   NEW  ZEALAND   ''LOCAL  POSTS,    1856" 

this  value  thus  used  singly,  and  on  their  original  envelopes,  dated  in  1857 
and  1858,  I  deemed  the  discovery  of  sufficient  importance  to  bring  under 
the  notice  of  this  Society. 


The  Local  Posts  Act,  1856,  which  received  the  assent  of  His  Excellency 
the  Governor  in  August,  stated  in  the  preamble  and  five  following  clauses, 
that  :— 

"Whereas  it  is  expedient  that  increased  facilities  should  be  afforded  for  the 
establishment  of  Posts  and  Postal  Communications  within  the  several  Provinces 
of  New  Zealand : 

"  Be  it  therefore  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  New  Zealand  as  follows : 

"  I.  It  shall  be  lawful  for  the  Postmaster  of  the  Principal  Post  Office  of  any 
Province  in  New  Zealand  from  time  to  time  to  establish  any  local  Post  or  Postal 
Communication  within  such  Province  whenever  he  shall  have  been  requested  by 
the  Superintendent,  acting  upon  an  address  of  the  Provincial  Council,  to  establish 
the  same ;  and  every  Post  or  Postal  Communication  so  established  shall  be  deemed 
to  be  a  part  of  the  Postal  Service  of  New  Zealand,  established  under  the  authority 
of  the  laws  in  force  in  that  behalf 

"  2.  It  shall  be  lawful  for  the  Superintendent  of  any  Province,  by  Proclamation 
in  the  Government  Gazette  thereof,  to  fix  the  rates  of  postage  payable  for  the 
transmission  by  any  such  Post  or  Postal  Communication  of  letters,  newspapers, 
and  other  papers  and  parcels ;  and  from  time  to  time,  by  such  Proclamation,  to 
alter,  repeal,  or  abolish  any  postage  so  fixed  as  aforesaid,  and  to  fix  any  other  rate 
of  postage  in  lieu  thereof.  And  all  postage  from  time  to  time  to  become  payable 
by  virtue  of  any  such  Proclamation  shall  be  charged  and  be  payable  accordingly, 
provided  always  that  no  such  rate  of  postage  shall  exceed  the  sum  which  may 
have  been  specified  for  any  such  Service  by  the  Provincial  Council  of  such  Province. 

"  3.  The  said  Postmaster  shall  cause  a  separate  account  to  be  kept  of  all  the 
Postal  Revenues  accruing  under  this  Act.  And  all  such  Revenues  shall  be 
expended  in  defraying  the  cost  of  the  various  Postal  Services  established  under 
this  Act  in  the  Province  in  which  such  Revenue  shall  have  arisen,  and  in  no  other 
object  whatsoever. 

"  4.  If  the  Revenues  arising  in  respect  of  any  Postal  Service  established  under  the 
provisions  of  this  Act  shall  be  insufficient  to  defray  the  cost  of  such  Postal  Service, 
any  such  deficiency  shall  be  made  up  out  of  the  Provincial  Revenues  of  the 
Province  within  which  such  Service  is  established.  And  it  shall  not  be  lawful  for 
any  such  Postmaster  to  establish  any  such  Service,  or  incur  any  expense  thereon, 
until  the  Superintendent  thereof  shall  have  guaranteed  the  payment  of  any  sums 
which  may  be  necessary  to  make  up  any  such  deficiency  as  aforesaid. 

"  5.  This  Act  may  be  cited  for  all  purposes  as  the  '  Local  Posts  Act,  1856.'" 


Christmas,  1856,  had  been  fixed  as  the  date  beyond  which  the  General 
Government  did  not  propose  to  maintain  any  Local  Posts  ;  consequently 
they  had  to  be  re-established  under  the  new  Act. 


THE  NEW  ZEALAND  ''LOCAL  POSTS,    1836."  63 

Immediate  action  having  become  necessary  in  the  six  Provinces,  their 
Superintendents  convened  the  Councils  for  debate  upon  several  measures 
passed  by  the  General  Assembly  which  affected  the  various  Local  Govern- 
ments. 

I  propose  to  give  a  short  account  of  the  proceedings  in  two  of  the 
Provinces  only,  as  these  were  interesting  in  their  details  with  regard  to  the 
use  of  postage  stamps  of  the  respective  values  of  One  Penny  and  Twopence. 

Auckland. 

In  December  the  Council  met  here,  and  Mr.  J.  O'Neill,  one  of  the 
Executive,  and  mover  of  the  resolution  for  the  "  establishment  of  regular 
postal  communication  within  the  Province,"  suggested  that  "the  rate  of 
postage  payable  for  letters  be  a  uniform  rate  of  two  pence  for  each  letter  of 
half  an  ounce  or  under,  and  tzvo  pence  for  each  half  ounce  additional." 

"Mr.  Graham  suggested  one  penny  in  lieu  of  two  pence  for  each  additional 
half  ounce." 

"  Mr.  J.  O'Neill  said  that  even  two  pence  per  letter  would  amount  to  a 
mere  trifle.  Stamps  for  tzvo  pence  being  in  existence  should  also  be  a  con- 
sider alio  Ji." 

"  In  Committee — Mr.  Graham,  considering  the  difficulty  of  getting  penny 
stamps,  zuithdrew  his  objectioji." 

"  Mr.  J.  O'Neill  asked  where,  if  the  lesser  amount  were  to  be  carried,  the 
coppers  would  be  found  to  pay  the  pennies.''" 

"  On  the  question  being  put : — 

"  The  postage  of  tzvo  pence,  in  both  instances,  was  then  agreed  to." 

I  may  here  say  that  at  that  period  there  was  no  bronze  coinage  in  the 
Colony. 

One  point  in  the  above  debate  implies,  I  think,  that  the  Government  had 
ceased,  in  1856,  to  print  from  the  plate  of  the  One  Penny  value. 

There  is,  doubtless,  one  instance  known  of  the  use  of  the  One  Penny ; 
namely,  on  blue  paper,  imperforate,  and  dated  at  Wellington,  August  26,  1856, 
submitted  by  Messrs.  Stanley  Gibbons,  Limited,  to  the  Sub-Committee  of 
this  Society  in  1893  ;*  but  may  not  this  have  been  a  portion,  or  remainder  of 
stock  in  hand,  of  the  large  number  of  One  Penny  stamps  printed  at  Auckland, 
as  we  have  seen,  in  November  and  December,  1855  ;  since  the  Twopence  on 
blue  paper  had  been  current  from  the  early  part  of  1856,  and  was  the  value 
mostly  required  .■' 

Canterbury. 

At  the  session  of  the  Provincial  Council,  opened  at  Christchurch  in 
October,  "  Mr.  Brittan  moved  "  (in  the  following  month)  "  that  an  address  be 
presented  to  His  Honour  the  Superintendent,  praying  that  he  would  direct 
the  Postmaster  at  Lyttelton  to  organize  a  daily  mail  between  Lyttelton  and 
Christchurch,  both  ways,  and  a  daily  delivery  at  both  places.  Also  a  mail 
twice  a  week  from  Christchurch  to  Kaiapoi  and  back.     A  uniform  rate  to  be 

*    Tlu  London  I'hilatdist,  October,  1894. 


64  THE  NEW  ZEALAND  ''LOCAL  POSTS,    1856." 

charged  of  one  penny  each  for  newspapers,  and  one-half  the  present  rate  of 
postage  (or  one  penny  per  half  ounce)  for  letters  ;  the  Council  guaranteeing 
the  difference  of  expense,  if  any,  of  working  the  new  arrangement." 

"  A  debate  ensued  on  an  amendment  of  Mr,  Hall's,  for  charging  tzvopence 
on  each  letter,  which  ended  in  the  amendment  being  negatived,  and  the 
motion  agreed  to." 

The  Postmaster  at  Lyttelton  thereupon  announced  that  he  would  receive 
tenders  at  his  office,  "  for  either  service  separately  or  both  together,"  for  the 
conveyance  of  these  mails  "  for  fifteen  months "  (in  each  case)  "  from  the 
ist  January,  1857." 

Then  followed  a 

''Public  Notice. 

'^Lyttelton  and  Christchurch  Local  Posts. 

"On  and  after  Thursday,  the  ist  January,  1857,  letters  posted  in  Christchurch 
before  half-past  8  a.m.  will  be  delivered  to  residents  along  the  line  of  route 
of  the  mail-cart  and  in  the  town  of  Lyttelton  by  one  o'clock. 

"  Letters  posted  in  Lyttelton  before  half-past  2  p.m.  will  be  delivered  to  residents 
along  the  line  of  route  of  the  mail-cart  and  in  the  town  of  Christchurch  the  same 
evening. 

"  Letters  directed  to  houses  situated  in  the  towns  of  Lyttelton  and  Christchurch 
will  be  delivered  at  the  houses  to  which  they  are  directed.  All  other  letters  will 
be  left  at  the  respective  post  offices  till  called  for. 

"  The  post  office  in  Christchurch  will  be  opened  for  the  receipt  of  letters  at  8  a.m. 
Will  close  at  half-past  8  for  making  up  and  despatching  the  mail  at  9  a.m.  Will 
reopen  at  11  a.m.,  and  be  closed  for  the  day  at  4  p.m." 

In  the  call  for  tenders  it  was  stated  that  the  delivery  to  individual  houses 
was  to  be  done  by  means  of  "an  open  bag,  containing  letters  and  newspapers," 
apart  from  the  mail-bags  for  the  post  offices  at  Lyttelton  and  Christchurch. 

"  Kaiapoi  and  Christchurch  Local  Posts. 

"  Letters  addressed  to  Kaiapoi  and  places  northward  must  be  posted  in 
Lyttelton  before  half-past  2  p.m.  on  Wednesdays  and  Saturdays. 

"In  Christchurch,  before  half-past  11  a.m.  on  Mondays  and  Thursdays. 

"Letters  for  Lyttelton  or  Christchurch  from  Kaiapoi  must  be  posted  before 
half-past  8  a.m.  on  Tuesdays  and  Fridays,  for  despatch  from  Kaiapoi  by  the  9  o'clock 
mail  on  those  days. 

"  Letters  arriving  from  sea  at  Lyttelton  will  be  forwarded  and  delivered  by 
the  Local  Posts  in  the  same  manner  as  letters  posted  in  Lyttelton. 

"Letters  posted  at  Kaiapoi  and  Christchurch  for  places  beyond  Lyttelton  will 
be  forwarded  by  the  Local  Posts — 

"To  places  within  the  Colony  of  New  Zealand,  on  prepayment  of  the  Local 
Postage  ; 

"To  places  beyond  the  Colony  of  New  Zealand,  on  prepayment  of  the  Local 
Postage,  with  the  postage  payable  on  such  letters. 

"  These  regulations  apply  to  newspapers,  as  well  as  letters. 

'  It  is  requested  that,  where  practicable,  all  letters  and  papers  be  prepaid. 


THE  NEW  ZEALAND  ''LOCAL  POSTS,    1856."  65 

"  Rates  of  Postage  by  the  Local  Posts. 

"  On  every  letter  not  exceeding  half  an  ounce  in  weight,  One  Penny. 

"  On  every  letter  exceeding  half  an  ounce  in  weight,  then  the  sum  of  One  Penny 
for  every  half  ounce,  or  fractional  part  of  half  an  ounce,  according  to  the  weight 
of  such  letter. 

"  Newspapers. 

"  Printed  newspapers  shall  be  conveyed  for  a  charge  of  One  Penny  each. 

"  Printed  prices  current  and  commercial  lists,  not  exceeding  two  ounces  in  weight, 
shall  be  forwarded  through  the  post  under  the  same  regulations  and  privileges 
as  newspapers.  <<W.  L.  Howard, 

"Lyttelton,  December  jo,  i8j6."  "Postmaster. 

The  system  by  which  letters  conveyed  by  these  mails  were  "  delivered  to 
residents  along  the  line  of  route  of  the  mail-cart,  and  to  houses  situated  in 
the  towns  of  Lyttelton  and  Christchurch,"  is  curious,  and  appears  to  be  the 
first  approach  to  a  "  Town  Delivery  "  in  New  Zealand. 


Judging  by  the  promptitude  with  which  the  Postmaster,  Mr.  Howard, 
carried  into  efifect  the  instructions  of  the  Superintendent  of  Canterbury,  by 
calling  for  tenders  on  "November  26th,"  to  be  returnable  on  "December  13th," 
and  the  complete  organization  of  the  "  Local  Posts "  for  that  Province  by 
the  30th  of  the  latter  month,  it  is  very  probable  that  a  requisition  for  a 
fresh  supply  of  One  Penny  stamps  left  Lyttelton,  perhaps,  in  November,  and 
that  a  printing  of  this  value  took  place  at  Auckland  in  December,  in  readiness 
for  use  at  Canterbury  in  January,  1857. 


Messrs.  Puttick  and  Simpson,  of  Leicester  Square,  offered  at  four  of  their 
Auction  Sales,  in  September,  October,  and  November  last,  several  specimens 
of  the  New  Zealand  One  Penny  value  on  blue  paper,  and  in  each  case 
represented  by  a  unit  on  the  "  entire  original,"  the  envelopes  having  passed 
in  sundry  mails  from  Lyttelton  to  Christchurch  by  means  of  the  "  Local 
Posts." 

These  letters  were  all  addressed  to — 

"  Thomas  S.  Duncan,  Esq., 

Solicitor, 

Madras  Street, 

Christchurch." 

I  append  a 

REFERENCE    LIST. 

One  Penny,  vermilion. 

1.  Blue  wove  paper ;  imperf     "  Port  Victoria,  New  Zealand,  Aug    21,  1857." 

2.  •,  ,,  »  „  „  "Aug.  25,  1857." 

3-  ■,  »  „  »  „  "Aug   25,  1857." 

4-  ,,  »  »  »  »  "Aug.  31,  1857." 


66  THE  NEW  ZEALAND  ''LOCAL  POSTS,   1856." 

5.  Blue  wove  paper ;  imperf.     "  Port  Victoria,  New  Zealand,  Sept.    2,  1857." 

6.  „  „  „  „  „  "Oct.  14,  1857." 
7«  »  »  »  „  „  "Nov.  3,  1857." 
8.             „           „             „                     „                        „  "April  26,  1858." 

The  original  date-stamp  of  the  post  office  at  Lyttelton  was  inscribed 
"Port  Victoria,  New  Zealand." 

Two  specimens  of  the  next  higher  value  were  also  among  these  stamps, 
as  follows  : — 

Twopence,  blue. 

1.  Blue  wove  paper;  imperf.     "Wellington,  New  Zealand,  Aug.  25,  1857." 

"  Port  Victoria  „  Sept.     1,1857." 

2.  „  „  „  "Wellington  „  Feb.     3,  1858." 

"  Port  Victoria  „  Feb.     8,1858." 

These  latter  were,  of  course,  of  the  class  described  as  "  sea  letters " 
in  the  previously-quoted  official  notice.  They  bore  no  indication  of  any 
extra  charge  for  conveyance  by  the  "  Local  Post." 


I  understood  Messrs.  Puttick  and  Simpson  to  say  that  these  stamps  had 
been  forwarded  to  them  for  sale  from  New  Zealand.  They  do  not,  however, 
appear  to  have  been  seen  by  Philatelists  in  the  Colony,  if  we  may  judge  by 
the  fact  that  no  mention  is  made  of  them  in  the  A^istralian  Philatelist. 

They  will,  doubtless,  prove  most  interesting  to  specialists  (historically), 
and  I  hope  they  will  be  seen  again  in  July  next  at  THE  London  Philatelic 
Exhibition,  1897. 

But  more  than  all,  I  sincerely  trust  that  their  present  owners  have 
retained  them  on  their  "entire  originals"  otherwise  the  interest  they 
possessed  when  I  saw  them  would  be  lost,  and  their  condition  reduced  to 
mediocrity ! 

(To  be  continued.^ 


[      67      ] 


ttasi0nal  Holes. 


THE    TAPLING    COLLECTION. 

E  are  informed  by  Mr.  E.  D.  Bacon  that  the  stamps  on  view  at  the 
British  Museum  have  again  been  changed,  and  that  the  issues  of  the 


Australian  Colonies  of  South  Australia  and  Tasmania  are  now  to  be  seen. 


LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION. 

E  are  informed   that  the  following  further  medals   have  been  placed 
at  the  disposal  of  the  Committee : — 

Messrs.  Buhl  and  Co.,  Limited,  offer  a  Gold  Medal  for  the  best  collection 
of  the  stamps  of  Peru. 

Messrs.  Calif  and  Co.,  a  Silver  Medal  for  the  best  collection  of  Sydney 
Views. 

Messrs.  Butler  Bros.,  one  Silver  and  one  Bronze  Medal  for  the  two 
best  collections,  not  exceeding  2000  varieties,  to  be  shown  in  any  album 
of  English  manufacture,  by  exhibitors  under  the  age  of  16  years. 


NEW  CONTRACT  FOR  THE  CANADIAN  STAMPS. 

E  are  enabled  to  quote  the  following  paragraph  from  the  Montreal 
Herald  oi  January  nth,  which  confirms  the  rumours  previously  given 
in  this  Journal,  and  will  probably  result  in  fresh  varieties  of  the  current 
Canadian  issues.  These  have  mostly  been  in  use  for  over  a  quarter  of 
a  century ;  hence  Philatelists  will  not  be  loth  to  see  a  change  in  the  design, 
excellent  as  it  is. 

"The  contract  for  the  Government  engraving,  of  which  tenders  were  called 
two  months  ago,  has  been  awarded  to  the  American  Bank  Note  Company, 
of  New  York,  for  a  period  of  five  and  a  quarter  years.  The  contract  is  worth 
$600,000,  and  may  be  renewed  for  a  similar  period.  The  work  consists  of  engraving 
Dominion  bank  notes,  revenue  and  postage  stamps,  postal  cards,  etc.  At  present  the 
British-American  Bank  Note  Company,  better  known  as  Burland  and  Company, 
formerly  of  Montreal,  have  the  contract.  They  tendered  this  time,  but  the  New  York 
Company  was  the  lowest.  The  New  York  Company  is  one  of  the  largest  and  best 
known  in  the  world.  The  firm  engraves  notes  for  some  of  the  banks  in  Canada, 
including  the  Canadian  Bank  of  Commerce.  Under  the  terms  of  the  new  contract 
the  Company  will  require  to  establish  a  place  in  Ottawa  to  do  the  work,  where 
the  Government  can  have  supervision  of  it.  As  compared  with  the  prices  paid  under 
the  Burland  contract,  the  Government  will  effect  a  saving  of  $120,000  by  the 
new  contract." 


68  OCCASIONAL  NOTES. 

THE  MIGHTY  FALLEN. 

T  is  with  great  regret  that  we  learn  from  the  columns  of  the  Deutsche 
Bricfinarken  ZciUaig  of  the  sudden  termination  of  the  Philatelic 
career  of  one  of  the  most  noted  German  experts.  The  dealer  in  question 
has  long  been  known  as  one  of  the  very  finest  judges  of  stamps  on  the 
Continent,  and  has  expertised  stamps  for  many  years  past,  until  the 
appearance  of  his  initial  on  the  reverse  of  a  stamp  had  come  to  be 
implicitly  relied  on.  Crede  experto.  We  regret  deeply  to  learn  that  the 
subject  of  this  note  has  been  guilty  of  the  meanest  form  of  stealing — 
in  the  substitution  of  inferior  or  worthless  stamps  for  those  submitted  to 
his  judgment  as  an  expert.  The  offences  seem  to  have  been  fully  brought 
home  to  him,  by  means  of  previous  and  subsequent  photographs  of  the 
stamps  submitted  and  returned  ;  and  having  a  presentiment  of  his  downfall, 
he  has  fled  from  his  country.  The  loss  that  Philately  has  sustained  is 
distinct,  and  painful  indeed  are  the  circumstances  connected  therewith. 


STAMP  FRAUDS  IN  VICTORIA. 


E  are  indebted  to  Messrs.  W.  Brettschneider  and  H.  H.  Manghirmalani 
for  a  cutting  from  the  Melbourne  Argus  of  January  7th,  from  which 
we  learn  that  a  long  series  of  frauds  upon  the  Postal  department  have 
just  been  brought  to  light,  the  perpetrater  being  the  editor  of  the  Australian 
Stamp  Collector,  a  Mr.  Thomas  Webb.  It  appears  that  collectors  in 
Melbourne  have  been  surprised  lately  to  find  that  the  more  valuable 
specimens  of  the  Victoria  stamps  have  been  turning  up  very  frequently, 
especially  in  an  unused  condition,  and  an  application  to  the  Postal  authori- 
ties has  resulted  in  an  investigation  which  shows  that  Webb  has  been 
in  the  habit  of  obtaining  the  pen-cancelled  stamps  from  receipts  and  other 
documents,  and  by  the  application  of  salts  of  lemon  removing  the  cancel- 
lations. The  stamps  so  treated  have  been  in  some  cases  returned  over 
the  Post  Office  counter  at  a  discount  of  5  %,  and  in  others  sold  in  an 
unused  condition  to  collectors.  When  it  is  known  that  stamps  of  ;^io  and 
£2  value  have  been  treated  in  this  way,  and  returned  to  the  Post  Office 
for  exchange,  the  grave  nature  of  the  fraud  will  be  evident.  Commenting 
upon  the  case,  the  Argus  says : — 

"  The  illegal  trafficking  in  stamps,  which  has  been  boldly  brought  into  prominence 
by  the  arrest  of  Webb,  has  caused  considerable  anxiety  to  the  Postal  authorities,  and, 
doubtless,  grave  loss  to  the  Revenue.  The  valuable  stamps  in  Webb's  possession, 
but  for  the  discovery  made,  might  have  all  been  bought  back  at  the  Post  Office 
window  as  a  matter  of  ordinary  business,  at  their  face  value,  less  5°/^.  Thus  the 
Revenue  would  have  lost  ;!^5oo.  How  far  this  trafficking  has  extended,  and  how 
long  it  has  been  practised,  cannot,  of  course,  be  decided  off-hand.  Webb  says  other 
stamp  collectors  use  the  same  means  to  restore  stamps,  and  probably  he  knows  what 
he  says  to  be  true.  One  thing  is  certain.  In  the  Stamp  Department,  the  door  of 
fraud  is  wide  open,  and  the  interior  is  so  invitingly  profitable  that  many  ingenious 
people  are  bound  to  enter.  The  means  by  which  old  stamps  are  obtained  to  furnish 
the  fraudulent  dealers  with  materials  for  their  solution  processes  are  many,  and  some 


OCCASIONAL  NOTES.  69 

of  them  are  curious.  In  the  first  place  there  are  countless  collectors  of  stamps  who 
gather  from  their  friends,  and  from  everyone,  old  stamps  of  all  values.  These  they 
do  up  into  bundles  and  sell.  If  they  are  smudged  with  the  Post  Office  marks  they 
are  of  little  value  to  the  fraudulent  dealer  who  wants  to  cleanse  and  circulate  them 
again.  But  if  they  have  been  taken  from  receipts,  bills  of  exchange,  &c.,  and  are 
merely  cancelled  with  the  pen — 'A.'  'B.'  'i — i — 97,'  they  are  easily  dealt  with 
as  described,  and  may  be  sent  through  the  Post  again.  When  the  banks  went  into 
liquidation  several  years  ago,  large  heaps  of  stamped  documents  they  held  in  their 
strong  rooms  were  sold  for  waste  paper.  These  documents  bore  valuable  stamps, 
some  being  worth  many  shillings,  while  a  few  ran  into  pounds.  It  has  been  suggested 
that  these  stamps,  at  first  treated  as  curiosities,  have  passed  from  hand  to  hand  till 
they  have  finally  reached  some  dishonest  dealer,  who  has  made  them  the  basis  of  an 
irregular  but  profitable  trade  by  selling  them  back  again  to  the  Post  Office,  or  putting 
them  into  ordinary  circulation  for  the  convenience  of  lawyers  and  others,  who  often 
require  high-priced  stamps. 

"The  Telegraph  Department  formerly  sold  their  telegraph  forms,  with  the  stamps 
attached,  for  waste  paper.  That  practice  has  been  stopped  in  view  of  recent  dis- 
coveries, and  the  forms  and  defaced  stamps  are  now  destroyed  in  the  office  itself. 
The  whole  subject  is  so  important  that  the  Postmaster-General  has  asked  Mr. 
Blackett  to  suggest  some  improved  stamp  which  will  not  lend  itself  to  fraud.  What 
is  most  desired  is  some  ink  which  will  change  colour  when  subjected  to  any  acid  or 
other  chemical  processes.  Meanwhile  the  greatest  care  is  being  observed  in  the 
department  in  the  conduct  of  stamp  business." 

It  is  to  the  efforts  of  the  Philatelic  Society  of  Victoria  that  the  Postal 
Departnnent  of  that  Colony,  as  well  as  Philatelists  in  general,  must  be 
grateful  for  so  prompt  an  expose  of  a  fraud,  the  continuance  of  which  would 
on  both  sides  have  been  most  serious. 


g 


PHILATELY  ON  THE  RIVIERA. 

HE  sunny  South  seems  more  prolific  of  palms  than  Philately,  and  the 
larger  towns,  such  as  Nice,  Cannes,  or  Mentone,  are  not  represented  by 
any  Philatelic  Societies.  There  are,  however,  many  birds  of  passage  who 
are  collectors,  and  we  are  credibly  informed  by  dealers  in  Nice  and  elsewhere 
that  there  is  the  keenest  demand  by  visitors  for  fine  stamps  of  all  kinds — a 
demand,  as  may  be  imagined,  far  in  excess  of  the  local  supply.  The  visitors  to 
the  South  are  of  the  most  cosmopolitan  order,  and  among  the  Philatelists  are 
collectors  from  Russia  and  South-East  Europe,  who  would  seem  to  be  more 
eager  purchasers  than  those  from  Central  Europe.  One  collector  from 
Roumania  brought  with  him  his  collection  (which  the  writer  was  privileged 
to  inspect),  embracing  many  stamps  of  great  rarity,  and  being  in  the  aggre- 
gate of  a  very  substantial  value.  The  set  of  Reunions,  the  first  issue 
of  Roumania,  and  the  1869  United  States  inverted  centres,  are  only 
samples  of  the  value  concealed  in  a  couple  of  large  and  unpretentious- 
looking  volumes.  Among  the  Philatelists  who  have  been  sojourning  on  the 
Riviera  may  be  noted :  Messrs.  W.  Hausburg,  Middleton,  W.  B.  Avery, 
Hillman,  and  M.  P.  Castle. 


70  OCCASIONAL  NOTES. 

TREASURY  GRANT  FOR  ARRANGEMENT  OF  THE  COLLECTION. 


PARAGRAPH  to  the  following  effect  has  appeared  in   a   number   of 
Provincial  newspapers  : — 


"Philatelists  will  hear  with  satisfaction  that  the  Treasury  has  consented  to  the 
insertion  of  a  sum  of  money  in  the  Estimates  of  the  British  Museum  for  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  famous  Tapling  Collection  of  postage  stamps,  to  be  continued  until  the 
task  is  finished.  Mr.  Tapling  left  ^^2000  to  be  expended  in  mounting  and  arranging 
the  collection  so  as  to  make  it  available  for  reference,  but  all  this  money  has  been 
used,  and  there  is  still  a  great  deal  to  be  done  before  the  work  can  be  said  to 
be  accomphshed.  Mr.  E.  D.  Bacon,  who  was  associated  with  Mr.  Tapling  in  the 
formation  of  the  collection,  and  who  has  been  entrusted  by  the  Trustees  with  the  duty 
of  placing  the  specimens  in  order,  calculates  that  it  will  take  over  two  years  before  his 
work  in  this  respect  is  completed.  The  collection  fills  three  large  wooden  cases, 
deposited  in  an  immense  iron  safe,  and  its  present  market  value  is  estimated  at  not 
less  than  ;^8o,ooo." 

After  making  due  enquiries  we  are  at  a  loss  to  gather  from  whom 
this  report  emanated,  which  is  obviously  incorrect  in  several  of  its  statements. 
The  amount  left  for  the  arrangement  of  the  collection  by  the  late  Mr. 
T.  K.  Tapling  was  not  two  thousand,  but  one  thousand  pounds — which  sum, 
we  believe,  has  been  expended.  The  grant  now  made  by  the  Treasury  will 
cover  the  expenses  of  mounting  the  adhesive  portion  of  the  collection  ; 
but  the  final  and  difficult  matter  of  the  proper  classification  of  the 
envelopes  and  post  cards  will  remain  a  question  for  the  future.  The  grant 
made  by  the  Treasury  in  the  present  instance  is  but  a  modest  one,  but 
is  none  the  less  to  be  welcomed,  as  showing  that  the  Trustees  of  the  British 
Museum  are  now  imbued  with  a  fuller  appreciation  of  the  importance  of  Mr. 
Tapling's  bequest  to  the  nation.  It  is,  however,  much  to  be  deplored  that  no 
arrangements  have  been  made  for  the  continuation  of  the  collection.  The 
acquisition  of  all  new  issues  without  cost,  and  the  patriotism  of  British 
Philatelists,  would  require  but  a  very  small  annual  grant  in  order  to  keep  the 
collection  literally  up  to  date.  We  sincerely  trust  that  some  such  step  will 
be  taken,  and  would  suggest  that  the  present  is  an  especially  favourable  time 
to  approach  the  Government  hereon. 


A    WARNING. 

E  have  received  from  Mr.  Hugo  Krotzsch,  the  President  of  the  Leipsic 
Section  of  the  Deutsche  Philatelische  Verband,  a  timely  warning  against 
the  "goods"  submitted  to  collectors  by  Mr.  A.  Batifort,  of  Manilla.  It 
would  appear  that  in  a  selection  (.?)  of  the  surcharged  French  Colonial  issues, 
submitted  to  a  member  of  that  Society,  amounting  to  2806  marks,  there  was 
not  a  single  genuine  specimen,  as  regards  the  surcharge.  Mr.  Batifort 
must  be  a  gentleman  of  slight  Philatelic  pretensions,  but  endowed  with 
marked  predatory  instincts ! 


OCCASIONAL  NOTES.  71 

THE  ERROR  ISSUE  OF  TOBAGO  STAMPS. 

HE  following  excerpts  from  local  newspapers  are  quoted  in  the  American 
Journal  of  Philately,  and  will  afford  welconme  news  to  all  who  wish  to 
see  Philately  kept  within  its  due  and  proper  limits  : — 

"We  understand  that  there  has  been  considerable  excitement  among  stamp 
collectors  both  here  and  at  home  over  the  recent  error  issue  of  Tobago  Shilling 
stamps.  It  is  rumoured  that  a  stamp  collector  has  laid  a  complaint  in  the  matter 
before  His  Excellency  the  Acting  Governor,  and  that  correspondence  is  now 
proceeding.  It  appears  that  the  old  stamps  went  out  on  September  30th,  and  the 
error  issue  came  in  on  the  ist  October.  After  the  stamps  were  sent  out  from  home 
it  was  discovered  that  they  were  wrong  in  colour,  and  an  order  was  issued  by  the 
Secretary  of  State,  it  is  said,  stopping  their  circulation.  This  was  received  in  Tobago 
on  or  about  the  8th  October,  and  there  were  then  only  a  few  hundred  stamps  out. 
This  issue  was  stopped,  and  applications  that  were  made  for  stamps  were  refused  on 
the  23rd  and  24th  October.  However,  for  some  reason  or  other,  the  stamps  were 
reissued,  and  His  Honour  Commissioner  Low,  Magistrate  Walker,  and  other  officials, 
bought  up  a  large  number  of  the  stamps.  These  are  the  allegations  brought  to  the 
notice  of  the  Acting  Governor.  If  Commissioner  Low  contravened  orders  in  order  to 
indulge  in  a  good  piece  of  speculation  for  himself  and  friends,  he  did  wrong.  If, 
however,  the  orders  from  the  Secretary  of  State  were  not  peremptory,  but  left  it  to  his 
own  discretion  as  to  when  to  withdraw  the  issue,  he  may  not  have  been  irregular." 

Mr.  H.  Clarence  Bourne  has  left  Trinidad  for  Tobago  under  a  Commission 
issued  by  the  Acting  Governor,  appointing  him  for  certain  purposes  which 
are  set  out. 

The  Royal  Gazette  further  states  that — 

"  And  whereas  circulars  have  from  time  to  time  been  issued  by  the  Right  Honour- 
able the  Secretary  of  State  calling  attention  among  other  things  to  the  difficulties 
sometimes  experienced  in  obtaining  supplies  of  Colonial  stamps,  and  to  certain 
irregularities  which  exist  in  the  practice  of  selling  stamps  to  dealers  and  collectors ; 

"And  whereas  complaints  have  been  made  to  me  with  regard  to  the  sale,  in 
the  Island  of  Tobago  in  the  month  of  October  now  last  past,  of  certain  postage  stamps 
which  had  then  been  recently  withdrawn  from  circulation ; 

"And  whereas  an  enquiry  into  the  matters  hereinafter  specified  would  in 
my  opinion  be  for  the  public  welfare; 

"Now  therefore  I,  Clement  Courtenay  Knollys,  Acting  Governor  as  aforesaid, 
do  hereby,  in  pursuance  of  the  powers  vested  in  me  in  this  behalf  by  the 
'Commissions  of  Enquiry  Ordinance,  1892,'  aforesaid,  and  of  any  and  every  other 
power  enabling  me  in  this  behalf,  issue  this  my  Commission  to  you  the  said  Hugh 
Clarence  Bourne,  appointing  you  to  be  a  Commissioner  to  enquire  into 

(a)  "  The  practice  which  has  hitherto  prevailed  in  the  Island  of  Tobago  with 
regard  to  the  sale  of  postage  stamps  to  dealers  and  collectors  of  stamps. 

(d)  "  The  circumstances  connected  with  the  sale  in  the  said  Island  of  certain 
postage  stamps  which  had  been  withdrawn  from  circulation  on  the  8th  day  of  October 
now  last  past ;  and 

(c)  "The  desirability  or  otherwise  of  providing  for  the  manner  in  which 
and  the  person  by  whom  requisition  for  stamps  from  dealers  in  and  collectors 
of  stamps  should  in  future  be  dealt  with ; 

(rf)  "And  such  other  matters  connected  with  Postage,  Revenue,  or  Fee 
Stamps  as  may  seem  to  you  expedient." 


[        72        ] 


gicbiffas. 


THE   SCOTT   CATALOGUE,    1897.* 

E  have  received  a  copy  of  this — one  of  the  generally- 
accepted  triumvirate  of  price  arbiters — which  in  its 
main  features  of  general  excellence  is  a  worthy  con- 
tinuation of  its  past  career.  In  view  of  the  present 
large  number  of  catalogues,  and  the  fact  that  they  are 
"  hardy  annuals,"  we  do  not  deem  it  advisible  to  give 
more  than  a  brief  outline  thereof  The  prices  of  these  catalogues  are,  as 
a  rule,  so  reasonable  that  almost  every  reader  of  Philatelic  journals  acquires 
them.  In  the  present  instance,  as  in  subsequent  cases,  a  somewhat  cursory 
review  must  not  be  held  to  denote  any  feeling  of  inappreciation  of  the  work 
under  review,  but  rather  be  taken  as  an  indication  that  its  known  excellency 
lenders  any  especial  comment  unnecessary. 

In  the  case  of  the  1897  Scott  there  do  not  seem  to  be  any  striking 
innovations.  The  all-important  portion  relating  to  the  prices  will  be  found 
to  contain  many  notable  alterations,  and  a  rapid  glance  through  the  pages 
shows  an  expected  general  advance  in  Europe  and  the  British  Colonies, 
especially  in  an  unused  condition.  We  are  glad  to  see  a  fuller  description 
of  France,  more  especially  as  to  colours,  although  this  is  a  country  which 
still  leaves  a  wide  field  for  Philatelic  research.  The  advance  in  the  older 
issues  of  United  States  is  somewhat  startling,  especially  in  many  of  the 
quotations  for  used,  while  the  Revenue  stamps  of  this  interesting  country 
have  risen  to  prices  quite  beyond  our  understanding.  The  descriptions  of 
the  secret  marks,  however,  and  the  exhaustive  treatment  of  the  "  U.S." 
portion  of  the  1897  Scott  render  the  book  invaluable. 

We  are  not  sorry  to  find  the  quotations  for  Post  Office  Mauritius  and 
similar  stamps  omitted,  but  are  surprised  at  the  entire  omission  of  any 
description  of  the  lately-discovered  die  varieties  of  the  De  La  Rue  British 
Colonial  issues.  The  "  Hints  for  Collectors  "  again  found  at  the  beginning 
of  the  volume  will  be  a  decided  boon  to  the  young  collector,  and  altogether 
the  Scott  Catalogue  will  be  found  to  be  an  indispensable  factor  in  British 
Philately. 


•  Standard  Postage  Stamp  Catalogue.     Fifty-seventh  edition,   1897. 
and  Coin  Co.,  Limited,  18,  East  23rd  Street. 


New  York :   Scott  Stamp 


[      73      ] 


llxln  Issitcs. 


NOTES   OF   NEW,    AND    VARIATIONS  OF   CURRENT,    ISSUES. 
(Varieties  of  Obsolete  Stamps,  and  Discoveries,  will  be  found  under  "Philatelic  Notes.") 

IVe  do  not  fro/ess  to  chronicle  everything,  but,  with  the  kind  help  of  correspotidents,  are  desirous  that 
all  the  important  novelties  may  be  included.  Speculative  stamps — i.e.  those  not  really  required  for 
postal  purposes—will  be  considered  on  their  merits,  and  Jubilee  issties  will  not  be  chronicled. 

Members  of  the  London  Philatelic  Society,  and  other  readers  generally,  are  invited  to  co-operate  with  us 
in  making  the  columns  as  interesting  as  possible.  Our  foreign  readers  can  especially  help  us  in 
this  direction,  by  sending  copies  of  any  official  documents  relative  to  changes  in  the  current  issues, 
or  early  intimation  of  any  new  issue,  accompanied,  when  possible,  by  a  speci/nen  ;  such  information 
will  be  duly  credited  to  the  correspondent,  and,  if  desired,  the  specimen  pi'omptly  returned. 
Address:  Editor  "London  Philatelist,"  Effingham  House,  Arundel  Street,  Strand, 
London,  W.C. 


BRITISH  EMPIRE. 

Bermuda.— The  A.  J.  of  Ph.  is  informed 
that  a  new  series  of  adhesives  in  the  current 
Colonial  type  will  be  supplied  to  this  Colony 
in  June  next. 

Gambia. — The  Ph.  Record  announces 
similar  news  for  this  Colony,  except  that 
the  new  issue  was  expected  from  London 
at  the  time  of  writing. 

Jamaica. — Several  of  our  contemporaries 
chronicle  the  i,  2,  and  5  shilling  stamps 
as  having  been  issued  with  the  Crown  CA 
watermark,  the  colours  being  of  a  slightly 
different  shade  from  the  C  C  stamps.  We 
understand  that  the  remainders  of  these 
latter  were  overprinted  "Judicial,"  the 
same  being  used  to  denote  payment  of 
the  Government  fees  to  the  Judicial  Court. 

Adhesives.     i  shilling,  brown  ;  perf.  14. 
2         ,,        claret  ,, 

5        ,,        mauve        ,, 

Labuan.  —  The  remarks  under  "North 
Borneo "  apply  here,  with  the  additional 
surcharge  "  labuan  "  in  the  usual  type. 
The  colours  are — 

Adhesives. 

T  c,  lilac  and  black,  black  surcharge  ;  redrntvn  type. 

2  c,  blue  ,,  ,,  ,, 

3  c.,  ochre  ,,  ,,  ,, 

5  C,  green  ,,  ,,  „ 

6  c,  brick-red      ,,  ,,  ,, 
8  c.,  rose              „                      „  „ 

12  c,  vermilion     ,,  ,,  ,, 

18  c. I  olive-brown ,,  ,,  ,, 

24  c,  lilac  and  blue,  blue  surcharge  ,, 

Niger  Coast  Protectorate.  — Mr.  A. 
G.  Griffith  has  kindly  forwarded  for  our 
inspection  specimens  of  three  Registered 
Envelopes,  which  arrived  in  the  Pro- 
tectorate on  the   loth   January.     The   sizes 


are  G,  H"",  and  K,  and  they  are  of  the 
old  pattern,  with  flap  at  the  back,  under- 
neath which  is  "Thos.  De  La  Rue  &  Co. 
Patent."  The  stamp  on  the  flap  is  enclosed 
in  an  ornamental  rectangular  frame,  similar 
to  that  illustrated  on  page  50. 

Registered  Letter  Envelopes.     2d.,  blue  (3  sizes). 

North  Borneo. — From  information  re- 
ceived from  the  British  North  Borneo  Co. 
by  the  Philatelic  Society,  London,  we  learn 
that  the  Governor  at  Sandakan,  writing  on 
28th  June,  1896,  advises  the  addition  of 
Chinese  and  Malay  characters  to  the  in- 
scriptions on  the  stamps  of  North  Borneo 
and  Labuan.  Hence  the  designs  have  been 
altered  to  include  these,  and  the  new  stamps 
will  be  in  use  about  the  middle  of  April. 

Adhesives.     i  c,  ochre  and  black  ;  redrawn  tyfie. 

2  c,  lake  ,,  ,, 

3  c,  lilac  and  olive-green  ,, 

5  c,  vermilion  and  black  ,, 

6  c,  olive-brown  and  ,,  ,, 
8  c,  dull  lilac               ,,  ,, 

12  c,  blue  „  ,, 

18  c,  green  „  ,, 

24  c,  dull  lake-blue  ,, 

St.  Helena. — A  correspondent  writing 
to  the  Ph.  Record  gives  two  items  of 
interest :  one,  that  the  6d.,  grey,  adhesive,  of 
the  old  type,  is  still  in  use  in  the  Colony  ; 
and  the  other,  that  the  bi-colour  i^d. 
adhesive  has  become  obsolete. 

St.  Vincent. — At  the  beginning  of  the 
year  a  new  post  card,  value  ^d.,  was 
supplied  to  this  Colony  ;  it  is  of  small  size 
(121  X7S  mm.),  and  bears  the  usual  stamp 
and  inscriptions. 

Post  Card.     %  penny,  green  on  buff. 


74 


NEW  ISSUES. 


Tobago. — Under  another  heading  we  have 
referred  to  the  enquiry  being  made  into  the 
recent  irregularities  on  the  part  of  Post 
Office  and  other  officials,  as  to  the  one 
shilling  stamps  printed  in  the  colour  of  the 
6d.  stamp.  We  now  quote  part  of  a  letter 
received  by  the  A.  J.  of  Ph.  from  a  corre- 
spondent on  the  island,  having  regard  to  the 
^d.  on  4d.  provisional,  which  speaks  for  itself. 

"  On  the  2 1  St  of  Dec,  '96,  there  was  a  sur- 
charge in  the  Post  Office,  id.  on  4d.  Revenue. 
1 14  sheets  of  60  each  sheet  were  surcharged, 
and  only  a  few  were  sold  to  the  public  across 
the  counter,  12  to  each  person,  then  there 
was  a  rush  to  buy.  The  Postmaster  stopped 
the  sale  of  them  unless  cards  were  brought 
to  post ;  in  that  way  I  could  not  get  any  to 
send  to  you.  About  1000  went  through  the 
post  on  cards,  and  about  eight  hundred  were 
sold  to  the  public.  The  luhole  0/  the  balance 
were  bought  up  by  the  public  officers  here 
from  the  Commissioner  down,  as  the  officers 
are  all  in  one  building,  and  the  Commis- 
sioner is  the  head  J-  for  since  the  \s.  e7-ror 
came  in  in  Sept.  last  year— and  was  with-  ' 
drawn  a  few  weeks  after,  and  a  few  days 
after  they  were  sold  out  almost  privately  by 
the  Commissioner,  who  has  bought  up  with 
the  other  officials  the  greater  part  of  them 
— very  few  were  sold  to  the  public.  They 
have  all  become  stamp  speculators.  It  is 
believed  that  the  id.  were  run  out  purposely 
so  as  to  have  this  surcharge  to  speculate 
on."    The  italics  are  ours. 

Zanzibar.— Messrs.  Whitfield  King  & 
Co.  write  to  point  out  that  we  omitted  the 
higher  values  in  our  chronicle  of  the  perma- 
nent (.'")  issue  last  month  ;  these  we  give 
below.  The  same  correspondents  also  inform 
us  that  the  4  annas  stamp  of  the  new  type 
has  received  the  "  2\ "  surcharge,  in  red. 
There  is  also  some  legitimate  stationery  to 
be  obtained,  as  follows  : — 

Aif/iesives. 

3  rupees,  lilac  and  red. 

4  ,,        purple-brown  and  red. 

5  ,,        dark  brown  and  red. 

"2J"  on  4  annas,  green,  black  and  red,  red  surcharge. 

£nvetope. 
si  annas,  ultramarine,  on  7vhite  /a»V/,  118x66  mm. 

Regislered  Letter  Envelope. 
2  annas,  brown-carmine,  134x83mm. 

Wrappers. 
\  anna,  green  on  bu/f.  126  x300  mm. 
I     ,,      carmine  on  buff         ,, 

Post  Cards. 

J  anna,  green  on  buff,  121 X  75  mm. 

i+S    ,.  ,.    .       ■■ 

I     ,,      carmine  ,,        140x89mm. 

I  +  l     11  ..  n  .1 


EUROPE. 

Denmark.— The  Philatelic  Record  adds 
the  following  to  the  Ust  of  adhesives  given 
on  p.  360,  vol.  v.,  perf.  I2|  : — 

Adhesives.     3  ore,  grey  and  blue. 
4    ,1     blue  and  grey. 
8    ,,     rose  and  grey. 
100    ,,     orange  and  grey. 

Finland. — Le  T.-P.  announces  a  change 
in  the  lo  penni  post  card.  The  inscrip- 
tions are  set  in  new  type,  the  shield  has 
undergone  certain  modifications,  and  the 
crown  and  lion  are  larger. 

Post  Card.     10  penni,  carmine. 

Italy. — We  are  indebted  to  Mr.  Joseph 
Cortese  for  pointing  out  a  change  which  has 
taken  place  in  the  5  c.  adhesive  ;  the  figures 
of  value  are  now  in  the  lower  angles  only. 
We  will  illustrate  this  stamp  shortly.  The 
paper,    wmk.,    and    perforation    remain    as 

usual.  Adhesive.     5  c.,  green. 

Luxemburg. — In  our  March,  1896,  issue, 
we  chronicled  some  values  of  the  current 
adhesives,  perf.  11^;  the  M.f.  now  announces 
a  further  change  in  the  same  values  to  per- 
foration II.     These  are  : — 

Adhesives.     12 jc,  20 c,  30c.,  37 Jo. 
Official  Stamps.       20c.,  30c.,  37'iC.,  50c. 

Monaco. — A  correspondent  writes  that 
the  colours  of  the  current  set  vary  some- 
what, the  I  c.  being  notably  paler — while 
the  75  c.  is  no  longer  on  sale  in  the  Princi- 
pality. 

Turkey. — Le  T.-P.  reports  the  emission 
of  a  5  paras  stamp  to  take  place  next  month  ; 
pending  this  the  lo  paras  has  been  sur- 
charged with  the  figure  5  in  Turkish,  and 
English  "  5  "  in  the  corners.  There  is  also 
a  new  Letter  Card  of  i  piastre  with  the 
current  stamp  of  that  value  printed  in  green 
and  black,  on  buff  card. 

Adhesive.     5  paras,  green,  red  surcharge. 
Letter  Card,     i  piastre,  green  and  black,  on  buff. 

AMERICA. 

Argentine  Republic. — The  following 
are  to  be  added  to  the  list  of  adhesives 
printed  on  the  new  watermarked  paper  (vol. 
V.  p.  55)  :— 

Adhesives.     16c.,  grey. 

2  pesos,  dark  green. 
5     „      dark  blue. 

Ecuador. — We  hear  of  numerous  addi- 
tional provisionals,  including  Fiscal  Postals 
and  resurrected  Seebecks.  The  M.  J.  gives 
us  the  following  list : — 

Adhesives.     (Fiscal  Postals.) 

1  c.  on  1  c,  vermilion,  of  1893-94. 

2  0.    „  2  c.  ,,  ,, 

lo  c.   ,,  4  c.  „  1887-S8. 


NEW  ISSUES. 


75 


X 


Le  T.-P.  adds  the  following,  which  consists 
of  the  1894  issue  surcharged  : — 

I.  "1897-1898,"   surcliargc  reading  up^uards  from 
lower  left-hand  corner. 
Adhesives.       1  c,  blue,  black  surcharge. 
10  c,  vermilion,  black     ,, 
JO  c,    black,  ,,         ,, 

2.  "  1897-1898,"  surc/iarge  reading  downwards 
from  top  left-hand  corner. 
Adhesives. 
2C.,  brown,  black  surcharge. 
5  c,  green         ,,  ,, 

50  c.,  orange       ,,  „        (stamps  of  1895). 

I  Sucre,  carmine,  black  surcharge  (stamps  of  1895), 
S      ,,      deep  blue    „  „  ,,  >, 

Mexico.— The  M.  J.  adds  the  following 
four  values  to  the  stamps  watermarked 
R.M.,  and  all  these  are  to  be  shortly 
superseded  for  a  new  paper  ordered  from 
England.  The  same  journal  adds  a  new 
Letter  Card,  with  a  folded  sheet  inside 
for  writing  the  letter  upon. 

Adhesives.     10  c,  rose-lilac  ;  wmk.  R.M. 
15  c,  blue-green     „        ,, 
20  c,  brown-lilac  ,,        ,, 
50  c,  mauve  ,,        ,, 

Letter  Card.     5  c. ,  blue  on  white. 

Nicaragua.— The  Seebeck  crop  is  ready, 
the  yield  is  a  good  one,  and  only  differs  from 
the  1896  growth  by  a  change  in  colour  and 
date.  The  issues  of  1869-71  and  1878-80 
have  also  been  reprinted. — MekeeVs  Weekly, 

Salvador. — The  same  remarks  apply 
here. 

OTHEJR  COUNTRIES. 

Austrian  Levant. — The  10  and  20 
paras  are  now  perforated  133,  in  place 
of  10  (.?). 

Adhesives.     lo  paras  on  3  kr.,  green,  black  surcharge. 
20      0       >,  3  kr.,  rose         ,,  ,, 

China.— Messrs.  Whitfield  King  &  Co. 
send  us  welcome  news  regarding  the  Local 
Posts,  and  the  Imperial  Chinese  Post 
specially.  The  former,  with  the  exception 
of  Shanghai,  were  closed  by  order  of  the 
Imperial  Government  on  February  2nd;  and 
as  it  is  made  an  offence  punishable  by  a  fine 
of  500  taels  for  steamers  trading  between 
Chinese  ports  to  carry  mails,  we  may  hope 
to  see  a  final  extirpation  of  the  badly-printed 
and  unnecessary  rubbish  which  has  too  long 
been  represented  as  legitimate  Philately. 
The  Shanghai  Local  Post  has  also  been 
ordered  to  operate  only  within  the  boundaries 
of  the  city  itself,  instead  of,  as  previously,  to 
the  various  treaty  ports  of  China,  which 
places  these  stamps  on  the  "  Locals  "  list. 

Pending  the  arrival  of  a  new  Imperial 
issue,  which   is   being  prepared   in   Japan, 


there  has  been  put  on  sale  a  set  of  pro- 
visionals, consisting  of  the  1894  issue 
surcharged  with  new  values  in  "cents" 
and  "  I  dollar,"  the  surcharge  reading  in 
both  Chinese  and  English  characters.  The 
permanent  values  of  postage  stamps  adopted 
by  the  Imperial  Post  are  of  the  following 
denominations:  ic,  i,  2,  4,  5,  10,  20,  30, 
50  cents  ;  I,  2,  and  5  dollars  ;  and  an  internal 
post  card  of  i  cent.  The  rates  of  postage 
are  : — 

Letters, — 2  cents  for  each  \  oz.  or  fraction 
thereof. 

Newspapers.— VositA  singly,  Chinese,  \ 
cent  each  ;  foreign,  i  cent  each  ;  in  packets, 

1  cent  per  2  oz.  or  fraction  thereof. 

Books,  Circulars,  Samples. — 2  cents   per 

2  oz.  ;  Patterson  samples  not  to  exceed  8  oz. 
in  weight. 

Parcels. — 10  cents  for  first  lb.,  and  5  cents 
for  each  succeeding  lb. 

Registration.  —  4  cents,  return  receipt, 
4  cents. 

The  set  of  provisionals  mentioned  above 
is  as  follows  :  — 

Adhesives. 
i  cent  on  3cand.,pale  yellow,  black  surcharge. 

1  ■>      ,,    I     „       red  ,,  ,, 

2  cents  ,,   2    ,,      pale  green         ,,  ,, 

4  ,1     ,,    4     ..       rose  „  „ 

5  >i     ,,    5     M       brown-yellow    ,,  ,, 


6 

,, 

brown 

6 

)t 

brown 

9 

„ 

green 

24 

,, 

carmine 

30 

I  dollar  on  3  cents  (Revenue),  red,  black  surcharge. 

German  Colonies. — For  use  in  the 
various  Colonies  mentioned  below,  the 
current  German  adhesives  and  post  cards 
have  been  overprinted  as  follows  : — 

German  South-  West  Africa. — "  Deutsch  " 
— "  Siid  West-Afrika,"  surcharge  in  two 
lines,  reading  upwards  from  lower  left-hand 
corner. 

Adhesives.      3  pf. ,  brown,  black  surcharge. 

5    ,,    green          „  „ 

10   ,,    carmine      ,,  ,, 

20   ,,    ultramarine  ,, 

25    ,,    orange        ,.  ,, 

*                         50    ,,    red-brown,,  ,, 

^tfi  Cards.        5  pf. ,  green,  black  surcharge. 

5+5    ..        „  .        »  >■            (reply). 

10   ,,    carmine   ,,  ,, 

10+10    ,.          >,         I,  .1             (reply). 

Cameroon,  or\  the  West  Coast  of  Africa.  The 
same  stamps,  etc.,  surcharged  "  Kamerun." 

Marshall  Islands,  in  the  Pacific  Ocean. 
The  same  series  surcharged  "  Marschall- 
Inseln." 

New  Guinea. — For  use  in  the  German 
possessions  (Kaiser  Wilhelm  Land),  the 
same  series  with  surcharge  "Deutsch" — 
"Neu-Guinea,"  in  two  lines. 


76 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


Togo.  —  German  Colony  on  the  West 
Coast  of  Africa.  The  same  series  with 
surcharge  "Togo." 

Hawaiian  Islands. — A  set  of  adhesives 
has  been  issued  for  the  use  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  Foreign  Affairs.  The  stamps  are 
perforated  12,  and  the  values  are  : — 

Adiiesives.      2  c,  yellow-green. 

5  c,  dark  brown. 

6  c,  blue. 
10  c,  rose. 
12  c,  orange. 
25  c,  purple. 

Portuguese  Qox.o-s.iYs.—Aiigra,  Fhji- 
chal,  Horta,  Ponta  Delgada. — Stationery  has 
been  supplied  to  all  these  Colonies,  consist- 
ing of : — 

Envelopes.     25  reis,  green. 
50    ,,     blue. 
Post  Cards.     10    „     green  on  buff. 
20    ,,    violet      „ 


Post  Cards.      30  reis,  brown  on  buff. 

10+10     ,,     greeu      „     (reply). 
so+30    ,,    violet     „         ,, 
30+20    ,,    brown    ,,         ,, 
Letter  Cards.      25    „    dark  green  on  i»^ 
50     „     blue  on  bbie. 

Madagascar.— Messrs.  Whitfield  King 
&  Co.  send  us  a  set  of  Unpaid  Letter  stamps, 
being  the  current  French  stamps,  surcharged 
"  Madagascar  et  Dcpendances,"  in  three 
lines. 

Unpaid  Letter  Stamps. 

5  c.,  blue,  red  surcharge. 
IOC,  brown,  red       ,, 
20  c,  yellow,  blue      ,, 
30  c,  rose,  blue         ,, 
40  c.,  lilac,  red  ,, 

50  c,  violet,  blue       ,, 

I  fr.,  green,  red        ,, 

Tunis. — The  post  card  of  5  centimes  is 
reported  printed  in  green,  in  place  of  black, 
the  change  taking  place  in  January  last. 

Foit  Card,     sc,  green. 


jljiliildic  Sntktics'  5^ci:tinigs. 


THE   PHILATELIC  SOCIETY,   LONDON. 


Honorary  President — H.R.H.  The  Duke  of  Saxe-Coburg  a.nd  Gotha,  K.G.,  &c. 


Council  for  the  Year  1895  96 : 
President — H.R.H.  The  Duke  of  York,  K.G. 
Vice-President — Vl.  P.  Castle. 
Hon.  Secretary — J.  A.  Tilleard.  | 

Hon.   Treasurer — C.  N.  Biggs.  | 

E.  D.  Bacon.  I  E.  B.  Evans.  I         T.  Wickham  Jones. 

R.  Ehrenbach.  I  D.  Garth.  H.  R.  Oldfield. 


Hon.  Assistant  Secretary — R.  Pearce. 
Librarian — T.  Maycock. 


The  sixteenth  meeting  of  the  season  1896-97 
was  held  at  Effingham  House  on  Friday, 
the  19th  February,  1897,  at  7.45  p.m.  The 
following  members  were  present,  viz.  : 
Messrs.  E.  D.  Bacon,  T.  W.  Hall,  H.  R. 
Oldfield,  R.  Meyer,  G.  B.  Routledge,  C.  J. 
Daun,  H.  Hetley,  A.  R.  Barrett,  T.  Maycock, 
R.  Pearce,  Gordon  Smith,  T.  H.  R.  Crowle, 
B.  D.  Knox,  C.  McNaughtan,  and  J.  A. 
Tilleard. 

The  chair  was  taken  by  Mr.  Bacon,  in  the 
absence  of  the  Vice-President,  and  the 
minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and 
confirmed. 

The  Secretary  reported  that  Mr.  A.  W. 
Chambers  would  be  unavoidably  absent  from 


the  next  meeting,  and  that  Mr.  Oldfield  had 
kindly  undertaken  to  read  a  paper,  which 
would  take  the  place  of  the  discussion  to  be 
opened  by  Mr.  Chambers,  of  which  notice 
had  been  given. 

Mr.  Bacon  announced  the  receipt  from 
Messrs.  Stanley  Gibbons,  Limited,  of  two  dies 
of  the  first  essay  for  the  \  a.  stamps  of  India 
as  a  gift  to  the  Society,  and  also  produced 
proofs  of  this  essay  and  impressions  in 
various  colours  of  the  essay  for  the  i  a. 
stamp  numbered  IV.  in  India  and  Ceylon. 
The  dies  and  proofs  were  examined  with 
much  interest,  and  the  gift  of  the  dies  was 
directed  to  be  acknowledged  with  the  thanks 
of  the  Society. 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


77 


The  Secretary  showed  a  number  of  designs 
and  proposals  for  stamps  submitted  in  and 
prior  to  1840,  kindly  sent  by  H.R.H.  the 
Duke  of  York  for  inspection  by  members 
attending  the  meeting.  Amongst  others 
there  were  an  original  sheet  of  "  Whiting " 
essays;  an  original  "Sievier"  circular  and 
design ;  a  design  for  stamped  covers,  with 
the  letter  of  the  proposer ;  and  a  sketch  of 
the  designs  adopted  for  the  first  id.  and  2d. 
adhesive  stamps,  coloured  in  black  and  blue 
respectively.  All  of  these  were  originally  in 
the  possession  of  the  Chancellor  of  the 
Exchequer  at  the  date  of  the  introduction  of 
Postage  Stamps. 

Mr.  W.  R.  Palmer,  proposed  by  Mr. 
Nankivell,  and  seconded  by  the  Secretary  ; 
and  Mr.  H.  J.  White,  proposed  by  Mr. 
Gordon  Smith,  and  seconded  by  the  Secre- 
tary, were  elected  members  of  the  Society. 

Mr.  Hall  then  gave  a  display  of  the 
stamps  of  Venezuela,  and  read  a  series  of 
notes  on  the  earlier  issues ;  and  on  the 
motion  of  Mr.  Bacon,  seconded  by  Mr. 
Oldfield,  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was 
accorded  to  Mr.  Hall  for  affording  the 
members  present  an  opportunity  of  exam- 
ining his  fine  collection,  and  for  the 
explanatory  notes  which  he  had  prepared. 


The  seventeenth  meeting  of  the  season  was 
held  at  Effingham  House  on  Friday,  the 
26th  February,  1897,  at  7.45  p.m.  The 
members  in  attendance  were  :  Messrs.  E.  D. 
Bacon,  H.  R.  Oldfield,  T.  W.  Hall,  G.  B. 
Routledge,  R.  Meyer,  R.  Frentzel,  T.  H.  R. 
Crowle,  A.  R.  Barrett,  H.  Hetley,  T.  May- 
cock,  T.  A.  Ranee,  R.  Pearce,  G.  Smith,  J. 
A.  Tilleard,  B.  D.  Knox,  and  C.  N.  Biggs. 

In  the  absence  of  the  Vice-President,  the 
chair  was  occupied  by  Mr.  Bacon,  and  the 
minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and 
confirmed. 

The  business  of  which  notice  had  been 
given  consisted  of  a  discussion  on  the  early 
stamps  of  Trinidad,  which  was  to  have 
been  opened  by  Mr.  A.  W.  Chambers.  In 
his  unavoidable  absence  Mr.  Oldfield  read 
a  short  paper  on  "The  Advantages  of  Stamp 
Collecting."  This  paper,  as  he  explained, 
had  been  originally  intended  for  a  less 
advanced  audience,  with  the  object  of 
showing  the  many  advantages  and  pleasures 
to  be  derived  from,  the  objects  to  be  attained 
by,  and  the  dangers  and  difficulties  attend- 


ing  the  pursuit  of  stamp  collecting.  The 
whole  subject  was  carefully  and  fully  dealt 
with  in  the  paper,  which  was  listened  to  with 
much  interest  ;  and  on  the  motion  of  Mr. 
Crowle,  seconded  by  the  Secretary,  the 
hearty  thanks  of  the  meeting  were  voted 
to  Mr.  Oldfield  for  his  kindness  in  reading 
the  paper  at  short  notice. 


The  eighteenth  meeting  of  the  season  was 
held  at  Effingham  House  on  Friday,  the  5th 
March,  1897,  at  7.45  p.m.,  the  following  mem- 
bers being  present,  viz.  :  Messrs.  E.  D. 
Bacon,  R.  Meyer,  H.  G.  White,  C.  J.  Daun, 
A.  R.  Barrett,  R.  Frentzel,  T.  Maycock,  C. 
McNaughtan,  R.  Pearce,  Gordon  Smith,  J. 
A.  Tilleard,  and  B.  D.  Knox.  There  was 
also  one  visitor  present. 

The  chair  was  taken  by  Mr.  Bacon,  in  the 
absence  of  the  Vice-President,  and  the 
minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and 
confirmed. 

Mr.  Bacon  then  read  a  paper,  communi- 
cated by  Mr.  C.  H.  Mottram,  on  "  The  New 
Zealand  Local  Posts  of  1856."  In  commenc- 
ing, Mr.  Mottram  corrected  a  mistake  which 
had  been  made  in  an  article  in  the  Philatelic 
Record  for  1895,  under  the  signature  "  G.  de 
F.,"  in  reference  to  the  date  of  the  appear- 
ance of  the  id.  stamp  on  blue  paper,  which 
should  be  1856.  He  then  explained  that 
prior  to  that  year  the  Colony  was  divided 
into  six  provinces,  each  having  local  govern- 
ment, with  power  to  arrange  for  the  local 
posts,  and  that  the  lowest  rate  for  letters  at 
that  time  was  twopence.  In  1855  a  conven- 
tion was  held  for  deciding  upon  postal  rates, 
but  only  one  province,  viz.,  Canterbury, 
adopted  the  rate  of  id.  for  half-ounce  letters. 
The  paper  further  contained  full  particulars 
of  the  printings  which  were  ordered  and 
made,  with  much  valuable  information, 
elucidating  the  vexed  question  of  the  date 
at  which  the  second  printing  of  the  id.  stamp 
probably  took  place. 

On  the  motion  of  Mr.  Gordon  Smith, 
seconded  by  the  Secretary,  a  hearty  vote  of 
thanks  was  accorded  to  Mr.  Mottram  for 
kindly  communicating  his  valuable  and 
interesting  paper  to  the  Society,  and  for 
consenting  to  its  publication  in  the  London 
Philatelist. 


78 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


SUBURBAN  STAMP  EXCHANGE. 

ESTABLISHED    IN    1892. 


The  number  of  members  enrolled  on  Feb. 
I,  1S97,  was  279.  Two  A  packets  (composed 
exclusively  of  sheets  valued  at  not  less  than 
^5  gross  each)  and  two  B  packets  (sheets 
under  £l  gross)  are  made  up  and  circulated 
on  the  20th  of  each  month.  Aggregate  value 
of  the  four  packets,  ;/^  1500-^  1850. 

The  ordinary  rules  of  Exchange  Clubs 
apply,  but  the  following  may  be  especially 
noted : — • 

(i)  Stamps  may  be  priced  at  members' 
discretion. 

(2)  Cash  settlements  are  monthly. 

(3)  All  members  see  packets  first  in  turn. 

(4)  Members  can  see  or  contribute  to  as 

many  packets  as  they  like  by  giving 
due  notice. 

(5)  Satisfactory  references  are  indispens- 

able.    

Notice  for  January. 
Two   A   and  two   B   packets    were    des- 
patched on  January  25th,  and  though  fewer 


sheets   were  received  (several   contributors 
being  indisposed),  the  quality  of  the  stamps 
offered  for  sale  and  exchange  was  quite  up 
to   the  average.     October   packets  are  ex- 
pected back  next  week  from  supplementary 
round,  when  accounts  will  be  submitted  in 
due  course.     Sales  were  as  follows  : — 
Oct.  A  I.     .         .    ^117  19    4 
Oct.  A  2.     .        .         88  14    9 
Oct.  B  I.     .        .         37     3    9 
Oct.  B  2.     .         .  24     I     8 

Supply  rounds  of  A  i  and 
A  2  not  to  hand. 

There  will  be  a  Supply  round  of  Nov.  A 
packets  in  about  a  fortnight ;  members  wish- 
ing to  be  included  on  lists,  to  give  me  due 
notice.  A  fresh  supply  of  stationery  ready 
for  distribution.  Collectors  desirous  of  full 
information  as  to  membership,  etc.,  are  in- 
vited to  apply  to  Secretary,  H.  A.  Slade, 
Tudor  House,  St.  Albans. 

Arthur  H.  Harrison,  Hon.  Sec. 

Grasmere,  VVhitefield,  Near  Manchester. 


}>£5o; 


BIRMINGHAM 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETY. 

♦ 


Hon. 


President — W.  T.  Wilson,  Esq. 
Sec.  and  Treas. — Mr.  G.  Johnson,  B.A., 

208,  Birchjield  Road^  Birmingham. 


January  21. — The  following  were  unani- 
mously elected  members  : — Messrs.  G.  F. 
Hughes  (Transvaal),  F.  C.  Krichauff  (South 
Australia),  J.  Debray  (Belguim),  E.  Lintelo 
(Belgium),  A.  Mattana  (Gibraltar). 

Mr.  M.  Z.  Kuttner  (London)  then  exhibited 
his  collection  of  the  stamps  of  South 
Australia,  which  was  extremely  interesting 
and  instructive  to  the  members  present. 


February  4. — Lieut.-Colonel  Ely  (Devon- 
port)  and  R.  W.  M.  Corbett,  Esq.  (Oswestry), 
were  elected  members.  Then  followed  the 
display  of  the  stamps  of  Trinidad. 

The  packets  for  January  totalled  .£3360 
9s.  5W.,  and  included  some  very  fine 
selections  from  some  of  the  foreign  and 
colonial  members. 


February  i8th. 
W.  T.  Wilson. 


-Paper  :   "  Mexico,"     Mr. 


Messrs.  P.  M.  Bright  (Bournemouth), 
J.  R.  Dammann  (Norway),  and  Major  G. 
H.  W.  Stockdale  (Plymouth),  were  unani- 
mously elected  members. 

Mr.  Wilson  then  gave  his  paper  on 
"Mexico."  Omitting  most  of  the  informa- 
tion that  can  be  readily  obtained  from 
catalogues,  he  almost  entirely  confined  his 
remarks  to  subjects  that  are  at  the  present 
time  being  investigated,  such  as  the  relative 
position  of  the  stamps  on  the  sheets  in  the 
early  issues,  the  various  plates  used  in 
printing  them,  the  chronological  sequence 
of  the  plates,  the  Habilitados,  etc.  etc.  The 
paper,  which  was  illustrated  throughout  by 
his  collection,  was  ample  evidence  of  the 
immense  amount  of  work  that  has  been 
done  and  is  being  done  here  and  in  Mexico, 
under  great  difficulties,  to  elucidate  the 
knotty  problems  connected  with  these  most 
interesting  issues. 


[/«  f  aging  lip  the  Socitties  Reports  in  our  last  month's  number,  tlu  /leading  of  the  Birmingham  Society 
tvas  by  mistake  inserted  instead  of  that  of  the  Bradford  Fhitatelic  Society.  Readers  will  please  there- 
/ore  make  the  necessary  alteration  in  their  Feh'-uary  numbers. — Editor.] 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


79 


THE  PHILATELIC  SOCIETY,  NEW  YORK. 


The  regular  monthly  meeting  of  the  Society 
was  held  in  its  room  in  The  Collector's 
Club,  on  November  i6th.  The  following 
members  were  present :  President  Herrick 
in  the  chair,  and  Messrs.  Scott,  Jones, 
Leavy,  Brevoort,  Quigley,  Andreini,  Lynde, 
Beats,  Hobby,  Holland,  and  Nast. 

The  minutes  of  the  preceding  meeting 
were  read  and  approved.  Messrs.  Angel 
M.  Trajillo,  413,  E.  87th  Street,  New  York 
City,  and  F.  E.  P.  Lynde,  325,  W.  87th 
Street,  New  York  City,  were  elected 
members  of  the  Society.  The  resignation 
of  Mr.  E.  H.  Osborne  was  accepted  with 
regret. 

Mr.  Gilbert  E.  Jones  presented  the  Society 
with  a  framed  broadside  advertising  the 
establishment  of  the  City  Post  in  New 
York,  with  rates  of  postage,  territory 
covered,  etc.  Unfortunately  no  date  is 
given  in  the  advertisement,  but  from 
internal  evidence  1842  or  1843  is  inferred. 
This  unique  broadside  is  of  great  interest  to 
all  American  philatelists,  and  a  vote  of 
thanks  was  tendered  to  Mr.  Jones  for  his 
gift.  The  Bogert  and  Durbin  Co.  kindly 
continued  sending  priced  catalogues  of  their 
sales.     Accepted  with  thanks. 

The  Librarian  reported  the  library  in 
good  order,  and  all  books  in  the  case,  with 


the  exception  of  one  volume  of  the 
Metropolitan  Philatelist  and  the  second 
edition  of  Mount  Brown's  Catalogtie. 

On  motion  the  Librarian  was  authorized 
to  procure  slips,  etc.,  for  the  better  preserva- 
tion of  the  unbound  literature  in  the  library. 

The  Committee  on  furnishing  the  rooms 
reported  progress.  The  meeting- room  is 
very  comfortably  and  cosily  furnished. 

The  anniversary  of  the  Society  was 
spoken  of,  and  a  committee,  consisting  of 
Messrs.  Jones,  Clotz,  and  Scott,  appointed  to 
make  arrangements  for  a  dinner  at  Del- 
monico's,  the  Waldorf,  or  some  other 
suitable  place. 

Mr.  Jos.  B.  Leavy  exhibited  his  mag- 
nificent collection  of  U.S.  for  the  edification 
of  the  members,  and  certainly  earned  their 
thanks.  His  stamps  are  arranged  in  chron- 
ological order  of  printing,  and  show  all  the 
minor  varieties  of  papers,  shifts  of  dies,  and 
more  minute  varieties.  The  carrier  stamps 
were  represented  by  reconstructed  sheets, 
and  of  grilles  he  has  the  finest  known 
collection,  having  every  variety  except  two 
chronicled  in  the  Metropolitan  list.  There 
may  be  collections  which  would  catalogue 
higher,  but  as  an  example  of  painstaking 
research  it  is  certainly  entitled  to  first  place. 

Meeting  adjourned  at  10.45  P-^i- 


PLYMOUTH  PHILATELIC  SOCIETY. 


President — Captain  G.  H.  W.  Stockdale,  R.E. 
Treasurer  and  Hon.  Secretary — W.  J.  W.  Miller. 


The  sixth  ordinary  meeting  of  the  Society 
was  held  at  9A,  Princess  Square,  on  De- 
cember i6th,  1896,  at  7.30  p.m.  The  Vice- 
President  (Mr.  R.  T.  Stevens)  in  the  chair, 
supported  by  nine  members  and  two  visitors. 

The  Hon.  Sec.  reported  receipt  from 
Messrs.  Stanley  Gibbons,  Limited,  of  an 
autotype  plate,  showing  the  difference 
between  dies  i  and  2  of  the  De  La  Rue 
issues  of  British  Colonial  Stamps,  and  was 
instructed  to  acknowledge  the  gift  with  best 
thanks  of  the  Society.  Volumes  W.  and  VL 
of  the  Monthly  Journal  were  also  presented 
to  the  Society  by  one  of  the  members,  and 
were  accepted  with  thanks. 

On  the  proposition  of  Mr.  Mayne,  seconded 


by  the  Hon.  Sec,  it  was  resolved  that  a 
Question  Book  be  provided  for  the  use  of 
members. 

Dr.  Pooley,  Plymouth,  was  elected  an 
ordinary  member  of  the  Society. 

On  the  proposition  of  Mr.  Mayne,  seconded 
by  the  Hon.  Sec,  it  was  resolved  that  a 
display  of  stamps  be  held  upon  the  date 
fixed  upon  for  the  second  ordinary  meeting 
of  the  Society  in  the  month  of  February, 
several  members  present  promising  to  send 
exhibits. 

The  subject  of  study,  "  The  Stamps  of 
Norway,"  was  introduced  by  the  Hon.  Sec. 
(Mr.  Miller),  who  illustrated  his  remarks  by 
the  exhibition  of  his  collection. 


8o 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


He  considered  it  an  ideal  country  for  the 
collector  with  only  moderate  means  at  his 
disposal.     There  were  a  few  errors,  which 
were  not  at  all  generally  known,  and  he  had 
found  a  number  of  varieties  which  he  had 
not  seen  chronicled.     He  considered  nearly 
all  the  unused  stamps  of  the  early  issues 
were  much  under-valued  at  present  catalogue 
prices,    and    was    of   opinion    that   on   the 
publication  of  the  new  catalogues  they  would 
be  found  to  have  at  least  trebled  their  value. 
The  first  issue,  1854,  was  composed  of  the 
4  sk.,  blue,  and  was  lithographed  and  imperf. 
A  very  rare  error  of  this  stamp,  which  was 
well  worth  looking  for,  was  an  impression 
which  showed  a  double  foot  on  the  lion's  right 
hind  leg.     The  stamps  of  the  second,  or  1856 
issue,  were  engraved  and  perf  13.     He  had 
specimens  of  the  3  sk.  in  grey  as  well  as 
lilac,  and  the  4  sk.  in  light  and  dark  blue. 
The  third,  or  1863  issue,  was  lithographed 
and  perf  14^  x  13^.    Both  the  4  and  8  sk.  were 
to  be  found  in  two  distinct  colours.     Of  the 
1867  issue,  which  was  also  lithographed,  he 
had  the   i   sk.  in  lilac  and  grey- black,  the 
2  sk.  in  orange  and  yellow,  the  4  sk.  in  light 
and  dark  blue,  and  the  8  sk.  in  carmine  and 
dark  carmine.     In   1872  a  new  design  was 
introduced,   and   of  these  there  were   also 
numerous  shades.     He  showed  an  error  of 
the  I  sk.  green,  which  consisted  of  a  full  stop 
between  the  two  e's  in  the  word  "een"  of  the 
inscription.     Some  of  this  issue  were  known 
imperf,  and  also  sometimes  with  two  rows 
of   perforations   across   the  top.      In    1877 
Norway  changed  its  currency,  and  conse- 
quently a  new  issue,  consisting  of  the  i,  3, 
5,  10,  12,  20,  25,  35,  50,  and  60  ore  values, 
was  introduced.     Two  years  later  three  high 
values,  viz.,  the    i,   i\,  and   2   krona  were 
added.     There  was  a  variety  of  the  5  ore 
with  no  stop  after  "  postfrim,"  and  he  also 
possessed  the  10  ore  with  the  same  charac- 
teristic, which  he  had  not  seen  chronicled. 
Of  the  60  ore  he  had  found  several  varieties 
in   the  size  of   the   figures   "  60,"   and  the 
distance  of  the  stop  from  "  postfrim"  in  the 
lower  part  of  the  inscription.     He  had  the 
small  "60"  with  the  stop  apart  from,  and 
also  close  to,  the  "m"  of  "postfrim,"  and 
also  both  these  varieties  in  the  large  "  60." 
The  I,  1 2)  ^nd  2  krona  also  showed  distinct 
differences  in   their  figures  of  value.     The 
design  of  the  1883  was  nearly  the  same  as 
that  of  the  previous  one,  the  only  difference 
being  that  the  body  of  the  posthom,  forming 
the   centre   of  the  design,   was    no   longer 


shaded  as  formerly.  The  issue  consisted  of 
the  3,  5,  10,  20,  and  25  ore.  The  colours  of 
the  10  and  20  were  afterwards  changed 
to  brown  and  blue  respectively.  Some  of 
the  values  were  known  imperf  The  most 
curious  thing  respecting  this  issue  was  that 
there  were  three  sizes  of  the  design,  one 
being  20  mm.,  another  2oimm.,  and  a  third 
21  mm.  high.  He  found  that  in  the  stamps 
of  the  small  design  the  numerals  of  value  in 
the  inscription  were  small ;  in  the  medium 
design  they  were  rather  larger  ;  and  in  the 
large  design  they  were  about  twice  the  size 
of  the  small  ones.  In  the  case  of  certain 
Canadian  stamps  a  somewhat  similar  differ- 
ence was  found,  but  that  had  now,  he 
believed,  been  attributed  to  the  stretching 
of  the  paper.  That  reason  for  the  difference 
could  not,  however,  be  assigned  to  the 
Norwegians,  as  the  inequality  in  the  size 
of  the  numerals  had  here  to  be  considered. 
In  most  cases,  for  instance,  if  you  examined 
two  copies  of  a  stamp — one  the  small  design, 
the  other  the  large — you  would  find  that  the 
figures  in  the  small  design  were  smaller  than 
the  rest  of  the  inscription,  whereas  if  you 
examined  the  large  design  you  would  find 
that  not  only  had  the  inscription  itself 
increased  in  size,  but  the  numerals  had 
increased  in  greater  proportion,  and  were 
now  larger  than  the  remainder  of  the 
inscription.  He  had  found  the  10  ore  red, 
and  the  20  ore  blue,  without  any  stop  after 
"postfrim,"  and  this  he  had  not  seen 
chronicled.  In  1888  the  12  ore  was  sur- 
charged "  2  ore,"  and  was  to  be  found  in 
both  bistre  and  yellow-brown.  In  1890  a 
I  ore  stamp  was  issued  in  black-brown,  and 
later  on  its  colour  was  changed  to  bistre- 
grey,  and  a  2  ore  stamp  in  yellow-brown  was 
introduced.  He  possessed  the  1  ore  with 
a  stop  between  the  "n"  and  the  "o"  of 
"norge,"  and  both  the  i  and  the  2  ore 
with  the  stop  close  to,  and  apart  from,  the 
"m"  of  "postfrim."  In  1894  a  new  series  of 
stamps,  with  the  inscription  in  ornamental 
capitals,  was  issued,  which  were  perforated 
both  14^x13^  and  13.IX125.  There  were 
also  a  set  of  unpaid  letter  stamps,  which 
were  perforated  14^^  x  13]!  and  also  13^  x  12L 

On  the  proposition  of  the  \'ice-President, 
seconded  lay  Mr.  Mayne,  a  hearty  vote  of 
thanks  was  accorded  Mr.  Miller  for  his  very 
interesting  paper. 

The  '•  Stamps  of  Great  Britain  "  was  fixed 
upon  as  the  subject  of  study  for  the  next 
meeting,  to  be  introduced  by  Mr.  Mayne. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  meeting  the 
Hon.  Sec.  passed  round  what  appeared  to  be 
two  varieties  of  the  current  id.  Great  Britain. 
In  the  older  variety  the  line  of  colour  in 
front  of  the  throat  extended  the  whole  way 
down  the  neck,  whilst  in  the  later  variety 
this  line  of  colour  extended  only  to  the 
seventh  line  of  shading  on  the  neck,  and  the 
eye-ball  also  appeared  to  be  smaller.  He 
also  passed  round  the  Straits  Settlements 
I  c.  on  8  c.,  yellow,  with  four  very  distinct 
varieties  of  surcharge. 

\V.  J.  \V.  Miller,  Hoti.  Sec. 

5,  Athenaeum  Terrace,  Plymouth. 


L     8'     ] 


C0rrcsi^oukna. 


A  SUBJECT   INDEX  OF  STAMPS. 
To  the  Edilor  of  the  ''London  Philatelist:' 

Dear  Sir, — I  am  glad  to  see  in  the 
London  Philatelist,  vol.  vi.  p.  27,  a  letter 
from  Mr.  T.  M.  Wears.  First,  because  I 
thought  he  was  dead,  having  failed  to  ascer- 
tain any  recent  information  concerning  him ; 
and  in  the  second  place,  because  it  gives  me 
an  opportunity  of  making  some  apology  or 
explanation  to  him  for  having  so  very  briefly 
referred  to  his  "  Index,"  published  in  the 
Philatelic  Journal  of  Great  Britain. 

I  was  on  a  visit  to  Durham  when  I  wrote 
my  short  article  on  Indexing,  and  only  had 
a  few  papers  and  notes  with  me.  Unfor- 
tunately I  had  not  the  actual  references  to 
articles  on  this  subject  published  by  Mr 
Wears  ;  so  rather  than  give  doubtful  refer- 
ences, I  thought  it  best  to  make  a  general 
statement  concerning  his  works,  and  amplify 
it  by  sending  you,  on  my  return  to  Oxford, 
a  further  note.  But  I  did  not  do  it  then  ; 
and  I  have  just  been  acquainted  of  my 
neglect  by  reading,  only  two  hours  ago, 
Mr.  Wear's  letter. 

The  paper  which  you  kindly  published  in 
vol.  V.  p.  303  was  written  in  great  haste  for 
a  meeting  of  the  Oxford  Philatelic  Society, 
and  I  had  no  time  or  opportunity  for  in- 
quiries, being  250  miles  from  my  books. 
In  fact,  nearly  the  whole  of  the  paper  was 
written  whilst  in  bed,  late  at  night  and  early 
next  morning.  I  should  have  been  less 
brief  had  I  had  more  time. 

My  actual  object  in  sending  you  the  paper 
for  publication  was  to  ask  for  the  loan  of 
books,  which  you,  Mr.  E.  D.  Bacon,  Mr. 
W.  A.  S.  Westoby,  Mr.  P.  J.  Anderson,  and 
His  Honour  Judge  Suppantschitsch,  have 
most  generously  placed  at  my  disposal  when 
required,  and  to  ascertain  whether  I  had 
overlooked  or  omitted  to  mention  any  work 
that  had  been  done  towards  the  formation 
of  a  general  index  relating  to  stamps. 

I  had  not  entirely  forgotten  Mr.  Wears' 
articles,  but  was  unable  to  do  them  adequate 
justice  for  the  reasons  just  stated.  I  sin- 
cerely hope  it  will  not  be  thought  that 
1  wished  to  ignore  or  slight  his  work ;  on 
the  contrary,  it  is  by  far  the  best  and  com- 
pletest  relating  to  British  stamp  journals 
published.  But,  to  my  mind,  it  does  not 
go  far  enough. 


It  must  have  been  noticed  that  my  paper, 
relating  as  it  did  to  such  a  comprehensive 
subject,  was  extremely  brief.  I  hope  to 
write,  some  time  during  the  summer — for 
then  the  mornings  are  light  at  4  o'clock,  and 
I  can  give  more  time  to  the  work — a  more 
explanatory  article,  stating  the  aims,  views, 
and  course  I  am  adopting  in  the  formation 
of  this  Index.  I  shall  be  pleased  to  com- 
municate it  should  it  be  desired. 

Yours  very  faithfully, 

F.  A.  Bellamy. 

4,  St.  John's  Road,  Oxford, 
February  liih,   1897. 


WHEN  ARE  STAMPS  NOT  STAMPS.? 

Dear  Sir, — May  I  request  you  to  insert 
this  letter  relative  to  a  brief  statement  which 
appeared  in  the  review  of  Mr.  E wen's 
excellent  album  in  the  London  Philatelist, 
vol.  v.  p.  358? 

In  the  fourteenth  line  of  your  paragraph 
these  words  are  printed  :  "  Private  stamps — 
which  are  not  stamps  at  all."  To  these  words 
I  wish  to  object. 

May  I  ask  for  what  reason  the  reviewer 
says  that  private  stamps  are  not  stamps? 
Would  he  give  his  explanation  as  to  what 
constitutes  a  stamp  ?  And  what  constitutes 
a  private — well,  I  must  write  it,  though  he 
objects  to  the  combination— stamp  ?  Does 
he  wish  one  to  understand  that  the  answer 
to  the  question  at  the  top  of  this  letter  is, 
"  When  it  is  a  private  stamp  "  ? 

It  seems  to  me  no  matter  what  adjective 
you  choose  to  use  before  the  word  "  stamp," 
whether  it  be  Government,  private,  postage, 
telegraph  companies',  receipt,  or  what  not,  it 
still  remains  what  it  was  when  manufactured, 
the  adjective  merely  specifying  or  giving 
greater  distinctiveness  as  to  the  purpose  for 
which  it  was  issued.  I  think  all  must  admit 
that  the  purpose  of  any  stamp  is  to  facilitate 
the  collection  and  keeping  of  accounts  for 
actual  cost  incurred,  or  charge  made  or 
levied,  and  to  make  it  apparent  to  the  eye 
that  an  amount,  either  definitely  expressed 
on  the  stamps  (whether  printed  from  engraved 
plates,  types,  woodblocks,  or  embossed),  or 
tacitly  understood,  has  been  paid.  Authorized 
to  be  paid  by  whom  ?  and  to  whom  ?  To 
the  Government,  if  Government  stamps  ;  to 
telegraph  companies,  if  private  telegraph 
stamps  ;  to  local  bodies,  if  local  stamps,  and 


82 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


so  on.  The  Government  of  a  nation  has  no 
more  exclusive  right  to  a  word  than  they  have 
to  the  water  in  the  middle  of  the  Atlantic 
Ocean.  They  may  make  laws  claiming 
certain  words  for  their  use  exclusively ;  but 
Government  laws  resemble  the  sands  on  a 
seashore,  ever  changing,  much  as  time. 

About  three  years  ago  I  was  searching  the 
Bodleian  Library  for  books  referring  to 
stamps  in  general,  and  found  a  good  number 
having  titles  relating  to  stamps  of  various 
kinds.  May  I  ask  whether  the  authors  had 
no  right  to  use  the  word  stamp?  Again  I 
ask,  What  is  a  stamp  ?  Is  that  word  to  be 
considered  as  if  "coined"  exclusively  for 
Government  purposes  in  1840,  because  the 
Government  of  this  country  at  that  time 
chose  to  print  and  issue  for  sale  bits  of 
paper  for  the  greater  convenience  in  collect- 
ing the  tax— for  tax  it  is — from  the  sender 
for  conveying  the  letter,  or  whatever  it 
thought  fit  to  allow  to  be  sent  by  post,  to 
the  addressee.?  Surely  no  one  would  dare 
assert  this.  The  books  I  referred  to  were 
published  much  more  than  100  years  before 
1840. 

I  presume  the  reviewer  had  in  his  mind 
the  postage  stamps  peculiar  to  the  Univer- 
sities of  Oxford  and  Cambridge.  Though 
of  far  greater  interest  to  me  than  the 
"Government"  postage  stamps  of  any  nation, 
I  do  not  hold  any  brief  for  their  protection, 
they  not  needing  it.  I  further  presume  that 
the  reviewer  does  not  desire  to  obtain  copies 
of  these  ;  it  is  well  for  him,  as  he  would  have 
an  immensely  greater  difficulty  in  obtaining 
them  than  in  procuring  "Sydney  Views" 
and  many  other  so-called  scarce  stamps, 
which  are  only  scarce  because  the  fashion 
dictates  to  collectors  and  quasi-collectors  to 
"  lay  in  a  stock." 

It -is  an  old  and  true  saying  that  there  is 
nothing  new  under  the  sun.  In  perusing 
some  old  stamp  journals  some  time  ago,  I 
came  across  a  discussion  upon  the  collection 
of  private  stamps.  As  it  seems  to  me  so 
very  applicable  to  every  collector  to  consider, 
I  will  finish  this  letter  with  two  brief  extracts 
from  The  Philatelist,  vol.  i.  1867:  "A 
Postage  Stamp  Collector"  writes:  "I  think 
that  postage  stamp  collectors  ought  only  to 
collect  legitimate  postage  stamps  "  ;  then  he 
gives  a  biassed  explanation  of  the  term.  To 
this  illiberal  explanation  the  editor  used  a 
more  courteous  advice  to  that  in  the  letter: 
"We  think  this  much-mooted  point  may 
with   propriety   be  left  to   individual   taste. 


The  line  may  be  drawn  at  arbitration. 
Some  amateurs  are  stamp,  some  postage 
stamp  collectors."  (Vol.  i.  p.  64.)  "As  to 
collecting  them  (see  p.  64),  I  ciuite  agree 
that  each  collector  had  better  judge  for 
himself. — A  Stamp  Collector."  (Vol.  i.  p.  79.) 
The  latter  writer  seems  to  conclude  that 
ladies  did  not  collect ! 

In  conclusion  I  would  strongly  urge  that 
this  generous  sympathy  among  collectors 
be  practised  more  generally  at  the  present 
time  than  it  is.  It  is  very  fortunate  that 
we  do  not  all  like  collecting  the  same 
things.  Why  should  a  man  be  branded  as 
a  fool  because  he  likes  to  form  a  collection 
of  pohcemen's  truncheons — there  is  at  least 
one  man  who  has  a  very  fine  series  of  these 
—  whilst  another  is  lauded  to  the  skies 
because  he  collects  rags  and  bones  and— 
"makes  money".-"  There  is  a  hidden  analogy 
here  for  readers  to  find  and  apply. 

Yours  very  faithfully, 

F.  A.  Bellamy. 

4,  St.  John's  Road,  Oxford, 
February  12th,  1897. 


THE  ARMY  OFFICIAL  STAMPS. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  London  Philatelist." 
Dear  Sir, — I  do  not  know  whether  it  has 
been  brought  to  your  notice  that  in  the  latest 
printings  of  the  halfpenny  "Army  Official" 
stamps  the  error  "okficiai"  has  been 
corrected,  a  tail  having  been  added  to  the 
"  I "  to  make  it  into  an  "  L."  No  doubt  the 
penny  error  will  also  be  corrected  when  the 
necessity  for  printing  more  arises,  if  this  has 
not  already  been  done. 

Yours  faithfully, 


M.  Connolly. 


The  Barracks,  Pontefract. 


LOURENZO    MARQUES. 
Provisional,  50  Reis  on  300  Reis. 

Dear  Sir, — A  correspondent  at  Johannes- 
burg writes  as  follows  : — 

"  On  my  writing  to  a  friend  at  Lourenzo 
Marques  for  a  supply,  he  informed  me  that 
he  was  unable  to  obtain  any,  as  only  4000  of 
them  were  printed  and  very  few  were  issued, 
the  Governor's  Secretary  having  taken  up 
the  lot.  This  gentleman  now  demands  £\ 
per  piece  for  them.  Consequently,  very  few 
even  of  the  people  of  Lourenzo  Marques 
have  seen  this  stamp,  and  it  is  very  evident 
they  could  not  have  been  printed  for  genuine 
purposes." 

Yours  faithfully,  Gordon  Smith. 

The  Society  for  the  Suitression 

OF  Speculative  Stamps, 

391,  Strand,  Lokdon,  W.C. 

x^th  March,  1897. 


[      83 

C^t  ilarlut. 


Messrs  Ventom,  Bull,  and  Cooper. 

January  13th  and  14th. 

Gambia,  CC,  6d.,  blue,  strip  of  5,    ^   ^-     '^■ 
ti/iperf.  .        .        .        .     5   10    o 

Nevis,  CC,  2id.,  red-brown,  block 

of  4,  unused    .         .         .         •     5     5     o 

Ditto,  CA,  ditto,  block  of  6,  unused     415     o 

Ditto,  ditto,  i/-,  purple,  block  of  4, 

unused    .         .         .         .         .700 

St.  Christopher,  CA,  6d.,  olive- 
brown,  block  of  4,  unused      .700 

Messrs.  Puttick  and  Simpson. 

January  19th  and  20th. 
Great  Britain,  id.,  black,  block  of 

18,  unused       .         ,        .         .   13  10    o 

Afghanistan,  1 873-74, shahi, purple, 

unused,  pair    .         .         .         .     8  10    o 

Ditto,  1875-76,  abasi,  vertical  strip 
of  3,  one  stamp  ^  rupee,  and 
two  I  rupee,  purple,  unused    .   11    10    o 

British  Guiana,  4  c,  magenta,  copy 

measuring  29  x  37  mm.  .  20    o    o 

Ditto,  i860,  I  cent,  pink,  pair,  un- 
used         700 

Buenos  Ayres,  1858,5  pesos,orange, 

fair II    10    o 

St.  Vincent,  no  wmk.,  id.,  rose,  a 

pair,  iiiiprrf.,  unused       .         .900 

Ditto,  ditto,  6d.,  blue-green,  large 

perf.,  block  of  10,  unused        .850 

Messrs.  Cheveley  &  Co. 
January  27th. 
Heligoland,  5  marks,  original  sheet 

of  25  stamps  .         .         .         .   12   10     o 
Portuguese     Indies,     1872,    wove 
paper,  20  reis,  strip  of  4,  on 
entire  cover    .        .        .        •     5     5    o 

Messrs.  Ventom,  Bull,  and  Cooper. 

January  28th  and  29th. 

Great  Britain,  2/-,  red-brown,  un- 
used         400 

Ditto,  "  VR,"  horizontal  pair,  with 
side  margins,  and  Maltese 
Cross,  trial  obliterations  (one 
in  red  and  the  other  in  black)  20    o    o 

Oldenburg,  second  issue,  J  gros., 
black  on  green,  with  Bremen 
postmark         .        .         .        .400 

Ditto,  third  issue,  J-  gros.,  moss- 
green,  unused  .         .         .     4  10    o 

France,  Presidency,  1852,  10  c, 
buff,  horizontal  strip  of  3,  un- 
used         4  17     6 

Ditto,  ditto,  ditto,  a  pair        .         .376 

Portugal,  first  issue,  50  reis,  green, 

unused 600 


Switzerland,  Zurich,  4rappen,  black, 
cut  close  .... 

Spain,  1852,  2  reales,  red 

Ceylon,  perf.  14  x  12^,  2  r.  50  c, 
red-brown,  vertical  pair,  un- 
used         

Oil  Rivers,  i/-,  in  violet,  on  2d., 
horizontal  pair,  one  stamp 
having  the  surcharge  inverted 

Ditto,  10/-,  in  red,  on  5d.,  unused. 
Reunion,  first  issue,  30  c,  black  on 

bluish,   uncancelled   copy   on 

entire  letter     . 
Ditto,  ditto,  a  penstroked  copy  on 

letter       .... 
Newfoundland,    2d.,   carmine-red 

unused    .... 
Ditto,  4d.,  carmine-red,  unused 
Ditto,  6|d.,      ditto,         ditto 
Ditto,  i/-,         ditto,         ditto 
Ditto,  6d.,  orange,  unused 
Ditto,  i/-,  orange  . 
Barbados,    id.,  on    half   5/-,  pair. 

showing  the  two  types  (perfs 

clipped  at  top) 
Tasmania,  id., blue, unused, vertical 

strip  of  3 
Victoria,    1850,    2d.,    red -brown 

engraved,  horizontal  strip  of  4 

unused    .... 

Ditto,  "  Too  Late,"  unused    . 


C     s.      n'. 

13     o    o 
770 


9 

5 

0 

8 

0 

0 

50 

0 

0 

SO 

0 

0 

38 

0 

0 

13 

10 

0 

II 

0 

0 

10 

0 

0 

12 

10 

0 

17 

0 

0 

16 

0 

0 

20    o     o 
7    ID     o 

5   10    o 


Messrs.  Puttick  and  Simpson 
February  2nd  and  3rd. 
Switzerland,  Basle,  2^  rappen        .     5 
India,  first  issue,  h  anna,  red,  error, 

unused  pair  with  bottom  margin  1 1 
Natal,  first  issue,  6d.,  green,  copy 
measuring  33  x  46  mm. 

Zanzibar,  surcharged  on  Indian,  ^ 
anna  to  5  rupees,  unused  (14) 


ID     o 


5     5 


I   18    o 


12*. 


^i 


7  10 


5  10 

14  14 
7  12 


British    Columbia,    perf. 
green,  pair,  unused 

Canada,  imperf.,  7^,  green,  unused  11   10 
Ditto,  6d.,  purple-black,  unused    .  16    o 
Nova  Scotia,  6d.,  yellow-green,  un- 
used (no  gum) 
BarbadoSjwmk.  Star,  5/-,  rose,  pair, 

unused    

Nevis,  CA,  6d.,  green,  unused 
St.    Christopher,    CA,    6d.,    grey, 

block  of  4,  unused  . 
.St.  Vincent,  no  wmk.,  4d.,  blue, 

block  of  4,  unused  . 
St.  Lucia,CA,  i/-,  black  and  orange, 

unused    

St.  Vincent,  i/-,  blue,  unused 
Ditto,  i/-,   vermilion,  large   perf., 
unused  (no  gum)     . 


4     4 


6 
4 


o 
o 
o 


IS     o 


84 


THE  MARKET. 


95 

0     0 

60 

0     0 

4 

0     0 

4 

10     0 

St.  Vincent,  CA,perf.  12,  4d.,  ultra-     £>  *•    ^' 

marine,  unused        .        .         .     4  15     o 

Ditto,  ditto,  6d.,  grn.,  pair,  unused     312     6 

Tobago,  CC,  6d.,  ochre  ,        .3120 

British  Guiana,  1862,  4  cents,  blue 

(No.    10   on    plate),    unused, 

roulettes  on  all  sides       .        .1300 

Messrs.  Ventom,  Bull,  &  Cooper. 
Sale  on  February  loth  and  nth. 
Gibraltar,   first    issue,    complete 

unused  .  .  . 

Moldavia,  81    paras,  cut   square 

(slightly  skinned) 
Tuscany,  3  lire,  yellow 

Ceylon,  first  issue,  is.  gd.,  green 
unused   . 

Labuan,  wmk.  Cr.  CA  sideways 
12  c,  carmine    . 

Ditto,  1883,  Provisional,  16  c 
blue,  surcharged  "  One  dol- 
lar," with  Postmaster's  ini- 
tials in  pen  and  ink,  in  red 
unused  .  .  . 

Philippines,  first  issue,  5  cuartos 
orange-red,  engraved,  unused 

Mauritius,  large  fillet,  2d.,  blue 
cut  close 

New  Brunswick,  6d.,  yellow,  un- 
used 

United  States,  1869  issue,  unused 
complete 

St.  Lucia,  1864,  IS.,  black  and 
deep  orange,  unused       .         .     5 

St.  Vincent,  first  issue,  id.,  rose- 
red,  imperf.,  horizontal  pair, 
unused,  showing  margin         .     7     o 

Ditto,   clean    cut,   perf.    15^,   6d., 

yellow-green,  unused      .        .180 

New     South     Wales,    1855,    6d., 

brown,  error,  wmk.  "  8,"  unused  6    o 

Queensland,  first  issue,  2d.,  blue, 
imperforate,  unused,  hori- 
zontal strip  of  3  .         .  78     o 

Ditto,  ditto,  2d.,  blue,  imperforate, 
horizontal  pair  and  a  single 
specm.,  used  on  piece  of  origal.  24    o 

Ditto,  ditto,  6d.,  green,  imperforate, 

unused     .  .  .         .  12    o 

Tasmania,  id.,  blue,  vertical  strip 
of  4,  used,  on  original     . 

Sale  on  February  25th  and  26th 
Mecklenburg-Schwerin,  \  sch.,  red, 

rouletted 
Gambia,  is.,  green,  entire,  unused 

sheet  of  15  .  .        .  30    o 

United  States,  "Justice,"  90  c.      .     5  10 


10  10  o 

5   10  o 

10  10  o 
13    o  o 

11  15  o 

5  o 


8  10    o 


5 


Messrs.  Cheveley  &  Co. 
Sale  on  February  15th. 
Saxony,  3  pf.,  red       .  .        .600 

Wurtemburg,  70  kr.,  lilac  .  .400 
Nevis,  IS.,  yellow-grn.  on  laid  paper  50  o  o 
St.  Christopher,  6d.,  sepia     .        .450 


Messrs.  Puttick  &  Simpson. 

Sale  on  February  i6th  and  17th. 

I  s.  d. 
Great  Britain,  "  V  R,"  unused  .  1 1  10  o 
Ditto,  3d.,  Plate  4,  spray,  unused 

pair.  .  .  .       6  15     o 

Switzerland,  Vaiid,  4  cents  .1900 

Japan,    first    issue,     500    mons, 

pale    yellow-green,    on    laid 

paper,  unused,  block  of  8     .       7  15     o 

Mauritius,  post  paid,  late  state  of 
plate,  block  of  4,  on  bluish 
paper  (Nos.  7,  8,  10,  and  1 1 
on  plate)  .  .         .1100 

Ditto,  large  fillet,  2d.,  dark  blue 
(No.  6  on  plate),  no  mar- 
gins    .  .  .         .     10     o    o 

United  States,  Justice,  90  cents, 

unused   .  .  ..700 

Nevis,  lithographed,  4d.,  orange, 

unused   .  .  .         .     10    o    o 

Ditto,  lithographed,  6d.,  grey      .     11   17     6 

Messrs.  Cheveley  &  Co. 
Sale  on  March  nth. 
Greece,   1862-65,  40  1.,  bistre  on 

bluish,  block  of    120,  unused     6   10     o 
Saxony,  3  pf ,  red       .  .         .600 

Mauritius,  1856,  4d.,  blk.  on  green     300 
Ditto,    envelope,    is.,   yellow,  cut 

square,  unused    .  .         •     5     5     o 

Victoria,  beaded  oval,  6d.,  orange     315     o 
Canada,  6d.,  perforated,  unused     .650 
Nevis,  lithograph,  6d.,  green,  un- 
used        .  .  .         .     7  15     o 
Tobago,  CC,  6d.,  ochre         .         .426 

Mr.  p.  M.  Wolsieffer, 
Chicago,  U.S.A. 

We  have  received  a  priced  catalogue  of  a 
sale  held  in  Chicago,  from  which  one  or  two 
interesting  quotations  are  given  below,  neatly 
printed  in  black  and  red.     The  catalogue  is 
made  the  more  desirable  by  the  addition  of 
the  latest  catalogue  quotation  inserted  to  the 
right-hand  of  each  lot. 
United    States,    1867,   3   c,   rose, 
grilled   all   over,   a    pair   and 
strip  of  3  on  original     .         .   10    o     o 

Baltimore,  1846,  5  c,  on  blue  paper, 

on  original  envelope        .         .  50    o    o 

St.    Louis,    5  c.   Die   A,    Plate    i, 

greenish,  on  piece  of  original  50     o    o 

Ditto,  IOC,  Die  C,  Plate  2,  grey- 
lilac  .  .  .         .  50    o    o 

United    States,    1869,    30  c.,    not 

embossed  .  .         .     2  16    o 

Ditto,  90  c,  not  embossed      .         .5120 

Ditto,  1872  issue,  reissued  in  1875, 
on  very  white  wove  paper, 
complete  set  of  13  values        .  86    o    o 

Ditto,  1861,  5  c.,  cliocolatc  or  red- 
brown  {August  Variety!)       .  23    o    o 

Ditto,  Justice,  90c.,    .  .        .600 

Antioquia,  IOC,  blue,  ^rr^r,  unused    640 


THE 


l0tt#tt  iMIatttttst : 


THE    MONTHLY    JOURNAL    OF 


THE    PHILATELIC   SOCIETY,    LONDON. 


Vol.   VI. 


APRIL,    1897. 


No.    64. 


C^e  Inniron  ||Ijilat^lit  ®^ljibili0n. 


rp=^o 


'he  rewards  of  Philatelic  virtue  at  the  Exhibition  in  July 
next  will  be  on  so  liberal  a  scale  that  in  every  class  of 
collectors  those  who  have  devoted  themselves  to  a  con- 
scientious study  of  their  stamps  may  hope  for  the  distinction 
of  a  medal  in  one  of  the  three  grades.  In  the  earlier  stages 
of  the  arrangements  the  idea  obtained — and  not  unreason- 
ably— that  by  the  necessarily  early  publication  of  the  initial 
list  of  prizes  other  donors  would  be  deterred  from  coming 
forward.  The  reverse  has  happily  proved  to  be  the  case,  the 
liberality  of  the  early  givers  having  acted  as  a  stimulus  to 
those  who  have  come  after.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  addi- 
tional list  of  medals  given  in  the  present  issue  includes  a 
gold  and  silver  medal  to  be  presented  by  H.R.H.  the  Duke  of  York,  the 
President  of  the  London  Philatelic  Society,  and  we  hasten  to  acknowledge, 
on  behalf  of  all  connected  with  the  forthcoming  Exhibition,  our  liveliest  sense 
of  gratitude  and  satisfaction  at  the  honour  conferred  by  the  gracious  act  of 
His  Royal  Highness.  The  members  of  the  reigning  family  of  England  have 
always  been  prone  to  associate  themselves  with  the  institutions  of  the  people, 
and  it  is  difficult  to  think  of  any  scheme  that  leads  to  the  benefit  or  happiness 
of  the  British  subject  that  has  not,  at  one  time  or  another,  had  kindly  and 
invaluable  aid  from  some  member  of  our  Royal  Family.  The  Duke  of  York 
has  royally  won  his  spurs  in  the  career  of  general  benevolence,  and  has  shown 
that  the  illustrious  examples  of  Her  Gracious  Majesty  and  of  his  Royal  father 
have  not  been  lost  on  him.  Amid  the  many  and  varied  calls  upon  his  time,  it 
is  most  gratifying  to  Philatelists  to  think  that  His  Royal  Highness  can  still 
spare  some  portion  of  his  time  and  energy  for  us,  with  the  happiest  possible 
augury  for  the  success  of  the  Exhibition  in  particular  and  Philately  in  general. 
64 


86  THE  DIES   OF   THE   STAMPS   OF  NAPLES  AND  PARMA. 

There  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  the  exhibits  will  be  commensurate  with 
the  rewards,  and  the  visitors  with  both.  We  gather  from  personal  experience 
on  the  Continent  that  the  interest  is  widespread,  and  that  a  very  large  number 
of  leading  collectors  and  dealers  may  be  expected  in  Piccadilly  from  all  parts 
of  Europe.  It  is,  therefore,  to  be  hoped  that  such  information  as  is  likely  to 
aid  our  foreign  visitors  during  their  stay  in  the  Metropolis  may  be  distributed 
at  an  early  date.  Not  only  this,  but  many  other  departments  connected  Avith 
the  arrangements  will  entail  a  colossal  amount  of  work,  and  only  by  the 
proper  division  of  labour  amongst  all  the  members  of  the  several  committees 
will  success  be  achieved.  There  is  still  nearly  three  months  before  the  inaugu- 
ration, and  if  everyone  works  with  a  will  from  now,  the  London  Exhibition  of 
1897  will  be  the  greatest  feature  hitherto  connected  with  our  pursuit. 


^\t  gies  of  t^e  Stamps  af  ^[aplts,  1858,  ant) 
^arma,  1852-57,  antr  loxtrnal  Ca^;  1853-57. 


By  dr.  E.  DIENA. 


''^^UMI'F  HAVE  to  tender  to  the  Editor  of  this  paper  my  warm  acknow- 
ledgments for  the  friendly  remarks  that  have  accompanied  the 
announcements  with  regard  to  the  somewhat  tardy  reorganiza- 
tion of  the  Postal  Museum  of  Italy.  I  have  now  the  pleasure 
to  communicate  a  piece  of  news  that  I  feel  sure  will  be  received 
with  due  interest  by  the  readers  of  the  London  Philatelist.  The 
Museum  has  just  obtained  possession  of  the  steel  dies  of  the  postage  stamps 
of  the  kingdom  of  Naples  (1858),  except  the  2  grana,  which  latter  has  not 
been  found.  At  the  same  time  the  plates,  likewise  in  steel,  of  the  10  and 
50  grana  have  been  received  by  the  Museum  :  they  are  constituted  in  two 
groups  of  100  stamps,  each  composed  of  ten  rows  of  ten  specimens,  with  a 
space  between  the  two  groups  of  7  mm.  on  the  10  grana,  and  9  mm.  on  the 
50  grana.  The  plates  measure  452  x  256  mm.  without  counting  the  margins, 
and  are  15  mm.  in  thickness.  They  show  in  several  places  hollows  formed 
by  rust,  or  projections  caused  by  friction  with  some  kind  of  metal.  The 
plate  of  the  10  grana  is  more  worn  than  that  of  the  50,  which  latter  presents 
a  very  interesting  particular :  the  reproduced  die  situate  at  the  right  lower 
angle  shows  that  the  Bourbon  Arms  had  been  partially  effaced  and 
the  cross  of  Savoy  substituted  in  a  rough  manner,  without  alteration  of 
the  value  or  legend.  This  clearly  indicates  that  the  well-known  modification 
that  had  been  effected  on  the  plate  of  the  \  grano  had  been  temporarily 
considered  practicable  as  regards  another  denomination.  The  interesting 
fact  has  remained  unknown  until  the  present  day. 

It  is  much   to  be  deplored  that  the  plate  of  the  \  tornese  (cross)  has 
not  also  been  discovered.     Everything  seems  to  indicate  that  it  has  been 


THE  DIES  OF  THE  STAMPS  OF  NAPLES  AND  PARMA.  87 

destroyed  a  long  time  since,  and  we  have  therefore  to  fear  that  the  relative 
order  and  arrangement  of  the  varieties  on  the  plate  will  long  remain  an 
unsolved  problem.  I  believe,  nevertheless,  in  conformity  with  the  opinion 
I  have  expressed  in  the  Timbre-Poste  (September,  October,  and  December, 
1893)  that  the  two  -J- tornese,  blue,  of  i860  existed  in  200  varieties,  although 
it  has  been  asserted  that  the  plate  contained  120  or  150  types.  It  is  hardly 
to  be  suggested  that  only  one  half  or  group  of  100  stamps  should  have 
been  re-engraved,  as  horizontal  pairs  of  the  Savoy  cross  are  known  showing 
the  spacing  existing  (8|  mm.)  between  the  two  values  or  groups.* 

The  Museum  has  also  at  the  same  time  been  fortunate  enough  to  recover 
from  the  same  source  the  steel  die  of  the  Parma  stamps  of  the  1852  and  1854 
type  (bearing  the  value  25  centes.) ;  the  matrix  (without  value  indicated) 
of  the  same  type,  in  very  bad  state  ;  and  the  steel  die  of  the  Newspaper  Tax 
stamps  of  1853-57,  utilized  in  1859  during  the  Provisional  Government  of 
the  Parmense  Province. 

These  several  objects  had  all  been  sold  in  1875,  with  other  articles 
of  an  obsolete  nature,  by  the  Bureau  of  the  Mint  at  Turin  as  old  metal, 
to  a  private  person  who  had,  it  is  said,  vainly  endeavoured  to  dispose  of  them. 
Persuaded  of  their  interest,  he  could  not,  however,  bring  himself  to  destroy 
them,  and  he  has  hence  had  them  for  a  number  of  years  in  his  possession- 
It  was  only  recently  that,  having  endeavoured  to  dispose  of  them  to  a  stamp 
dealer,  he  at  length  disposed  of  them  to  an  amateur  at  Turin,  from  whom 
the  Posts  and  Telegraphs  Department  has  been  enabled  to  procure  them. 

It  was  at  first  supposed  that  these  plates  had  been  stolen,  and  the 
Director  of  Posts  at  Turin  caused  an  inquiry  to  be  instituted,  the  result 
of  which  has  been  to  establish  the  fact  that  their  sale  took  place  in  1875,  and 
was  legally  and  properly  carried  out — a  discovery  which  only  shows  what 
depth  of  folly  officials  are  capable  of 

It  has  been  reported  to  me  that  the  well-known  Turin  dealer,  M.  O.,  had 
been  able  to  obtain  the  loan  of  two  of  these  dies,  and  that  he  had  profited 
thereby  in  making  some  reprints  of  the  -|  and  50  grana  on  the  original 
paper,  this  latter  being  obtained  by  discharging  the  colour  of  some  of  the 
stamps  of  the  lower  values.  The  shade  of  colour  being,  however,  quite 
different,  and  certain  defects  on  the  die  of  the  50  grana,  easily  enable  one 
to  discover  the  fraud — which  is  not  punishable  in  Italy  ! 

It  is  indeed  a  veritable  stroke  of  fortune,  that  after  the  various  perambula- 
tions of  these  precious  objects  they  have  been  reacquired  by  the  Government, 
as  otherwise  there  would  doubtless  have  ensued  a  series  of  reprints  on  the 
largest  possible  scale. 

[All  Philatelists  will  rejoice  at  the  interesting  news  aff"orded  by  Dr.  Diena 
and  will  wish  him  and  his  Government  all  possible  energy  and  success  in  the 
wresting  from  the  hands  of  unscrupulous  holders  every  die  or  reproduction 
thereof  of  any  Italian  State,  that  has  hitherto  served  to  degrade  the 
Government  of  Italy  in  the  eyes  of  the  Philatelic  world. — Ed.] 

*  We  can  endorse  this  statement  of  Dr.  Diena's,  having  acquired  a  year  or  so  since  a  pair  with 
the  intervening  space,  which  we  had  considered  as  strong  evidence  of  the  200  varieties. — Ed. 


Iljilalelir  ^olts. 


Note. — The  co-operation  of  Philatelists  is  invited  in  order  to  wake  this  column  of  a  varied 

and  interesting  nature. 


THE  FIRST  ISSUE  OF  SERVIA. 
HESE  two  primitive-looking  stamps  have  always  been  enshrouded  in 
mystery,  the  veil  of  which  has  at  last  been  lifted  by  an  excellent 
article  in  the  Austria  Philatelist  of  the  15th  of  March.  It  appears  that  the 
stamps  of  the  values  of  i,  2,  10,  20,  and  40  paras  of  the  well-known  design  of 
the  issue  following  were  delayed  in  their  delivery  from  Vienna  on  May  ist, 
1866,  as  ordered,  and  the  need  for  the  two  lower  values  being  pressing,  a 
provisional  issue  thereof  was  made  from  a  "  wood-cut — with  leaden  cliches" 
in  the  Belgrade  State  Printing  Office.     There  were  two  printings,  i.e., 

1 8th  April,  1866. 
I  para.  2  para. 

2040  I  1944 

20th  May,   1866. 
18,360  I  18,300 


This  accounts,  says  the  writer,  for  the  two  well-defined  colours  of  both 
values,  and  he  states  that  the  error  is  probably  a  proof  of  the  second  printing. 
The  later  statement  seems  open  to  question,  and  it  is  also  desirable  to  have 
fuller  information  as  to  the  colours  of  the  respective  printings.  It  appears 
further  that  these  stamps  were  used  for  paying  an  additional  postage  for 
foreign  journals  entering  Servia,  and  that  they  were  affixed  by  the  Post  Office 
officials,  whose  instructions  were  to  fasten  the  stamps  so  that  on  opening  the 
wrapper  containing  the  paper  they  would  be  destroyed  by  tearing,  and 
7iot  to  obliterate  them  in  the  ordinary  way.  Thus  is  accounted  for  the  mystery 
of  these  stamps  being  practically  unknown  obliterated.  The  other  values 
(with  head  of   Prince)  ordered  from  Vienna  were  delivered  in  June,   1866, 

and  consisted  of 

10  para  ....  12,000 

20     „  ....  200,000 

40     „  ....  20,000 

These  figures  fully  bear  out  the  modern  estimates  of  relative  value,  and 
show  that  the  10  and  40  paras  should  really  be  held — as  they  are — rare 
stamps,  and  worth  many  18  kr.  Wurtemburgs.  The  article  throughout  is  full 
of  interest,  and  being  evidently  written  with  local  knowledge  and  oppor- 
tunities, is  a  valuable  contribution  to  a  very  little  known  page  of  Philatelic 
history. 


OCCASIONAL  NOTES.  ^9 

SOUTH  AUSTRALIA. 
E  have  received  two  curiosities  from  Mr.  George  Blockey,  consisting 
of  the  2d.  in  a  deep  orange-red  colour,  perf.  lo,  with  surcharge  "  O.S." 
in  the  thin  capitals.  Mr.  Blockey  has  only  seen  three  copies  of  this  stamp, 
which  bore  postmarks  Nov.  '93,  Dec.  '93,  Jan.  '94.  Also  a  pair  of  the 
IS.,  brown,  1874,  first  star  watermark,  with  double  surcharge  "O.S."  in  the 
block  capitals.  The  stamps  have  every  appearance  of  being  genuine,  the 
surcharges  agreeing  in  every  respect. 


THE   AUSTRIAN  MERCURY  FORGERIES. 


3 


EFERENCE  has  frequently  been  made  in  this  Journal  to  the  question 
of  the  authenticity  of  the  recent  "  finds "  of  red,  yellow,  and  rose 
Mercuries  emanating  from  Mr.  S.  Friedl,  and  the  conclusion  must  have 
been  fully  borne  in  upon  all  Philatelists  who  have  followed  the  question  that 
the  "  stamps "  in  question  were  remarkably  clever,  but  worthless  repro- 
ductions. The  matter  would  now  appear  to  be  finally  settled  according  to  a 
communication  sent  to  us  by  the  Austrian  Philatelic  Club,  which  includes 
a  lengthy  report  upon  these  stamps  emanating  from  the  Imperial  Court  and 
State  Printing  Offices,  wherein  it  is  stated  categorically  that  these  Mercuries 
are  simply  photolithographic  reproductions  and  worthless  imitations.  La 
parole  est  a  M.  Friedl ! 


rtiisbnal  Eolcs. 


LONDON    PHILATELIC    EXHIBITION,     1897. 

MEDALS    PRESENTED    BY    H.R.H.    THE    DUKE    OF    YORK. 

I E  have  great  pleasure  in  making  the  following  important  announcement 

forwarded  to  us  by  the  Secretary  : — 
H.R.H.  the  Duke  of  York  has  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  Committee 
one  gold  and  one  silver  medal  for  the  two  best  collections  shown  in  Class  IV., 
formed  and  owned  by  ladies. 

Mr.  W.  S.  Lincoln  offers  one  gold  and  one  silver  medal  for  the  two  best 
collections  of  the  postage  stamps  of  the  Transvaal. 


PHILATELIC  EXHIBITIONS. 
|e  are  desired  to  call  the  attention  of  exhibitors  to  the  extreme  desir- 
ability of  giving  early  notice  as  to  the  nature  of  their  exhibits.  The 
final  date  for  sending  in  these  was  originally  fixed  for  May  ist,  but  we 
understand  that  although  this  will  not  be  rigidly  adhered  to,  the  Committee 
are  very  anxious  to  have  the  earliest  possible  intimations. 


go  OCCASIONAL  NOTES. 


THE    NEW    CATALOGUES. 


E  are  informed  that  the  work  of  the  second  portion  of  Messrs.  Stanley- 
Gibbons'  Catalogues  is  well  in  hand,  and  that  its  appearance  may 
be  confidently  expected  next  month.  The  European  countries  will  be — 
for  the  first  time — reasonably  and  seriously  catalogued.  As  an  instance  of  this 
we  may  state  that — after  collaboration  in  this  country  with  all  the  leading 
authorities — the  lists  of  the  Italian  and  German  States  have  been  thoroughly 
revised  respectively  by  Dr.  E.  Diena,  of  Modena,  and  Dr.  R.  Franz,  of 
Leipsic,  experts  whose  praises  need  no  sounding.  The  appearance  of 
Volume  II.  will  be  awaited  with  very  keen  interest. 

We  hear  that  Messrs.  Bright  &  Sons'  Catalogue  has  already  been  nearly 
set  up,  and  that  it  should  also  hence  very  shortly  appear — thus  making  a 
race  with  its  competitor. 


A   GRAVE  SCANDAL. 


E  commented  in  our  January  issues  upon  the  sudden  influx  in  the 
market  of  complete  sets  of  the  United  States  Periodical  stamps  in 
an  unused  condition.  Since  that  time  Philatelic  interest  in  America  has 
been  centred  in  the  examination,  and  subsequent  indictment,  of  Hamilton 
F.  Colman  on  the  charges  of  having  in  his  possession  ^looo  worth  of  the 
above  stamps,  alleged  to  have  been  stolen  from  the  Third  Assistant  Post- 
master's office,  and,  further,  having  the  same  fraudulently  perforated  for 
sale  to  stamp  collectors. 

Briefly  the  case  stands  thus.  About  three  years  back  the  American 
Bank  Note  Company  printed  some  sheets  of  stamps  of  all  kinds,  which 
were  sent  as  guide  sheets  to  the  present  Government  printers,  the  Bureau 
of  Engraving  and  Printing.  These  sheets  were  returned  to  the  Third 
Assistant  Postmaster's  office,  where  they  have  remained  locked  up. 

It  is  alleged  that  Captain  Munce,  the  chief  clerk  in  the  Third  Assistant 
Postmaster's  office,  took  a  quantity  of  these  stamps,  and  gave  them  to  his 
wife,  who  subsequently  sold  them  to  the  firm  of  dealers  in  Washington  of 
which  Colman  was  a  partner.  Captain  Munce  has  since  been  suspended 
from  office.  It  appears  that  after  receiving  the  stamps  in  an  imperforate 
condition  from  Mrs.  Munce,  Colman  had  them  perforated,  and  hence  the 
surfeit  of  sets  at  $75 — $125  a  set  already  spoken  of  For  the  above  details 
we  are  indebted  to  the  Weekly  Stamp  Nezus.  The  Post  Office  are  still 
investigating  how  and  where  the  stamps  were  perforated,  as  Colman  refuses 
to  divulge  this  information  ;  and  more  will,  no  doubt,  be  heard  of  the  case, 
which  presents  a  grievous  scandal  to  the  Philatelic  public,  and  constitutes 
a  most  serious  charge  against  the  dealers  connected  therewith. 


OCCASIONAL  NOTES.  91 


A   LARGE  COLLECTION. 


HE  sale  of  large  collections  during  the  last  few  years  has  aroused  no 
small  amount  of  Philatelic  interest ;  and  sceptics  have  opened  their 
eyes  in  mute  astonishment  at  portions  only  of  certain  collectors'  treasures, 
which  have  changed  hands  for  such  sums  as  ;^6ooo  and  ;^io,ooo.  Further 
food  for  reflection  is,  however,  now  afforded  by  the  healthy  announcement 
that  there  has  been  acquired  by  Messrs.  Stanley  Gibbons,  Limited,  a  part 
of  the  magnificent  collection  of  Mr.  F.  W.  Ayer,  a  member  of  the  London 
Philatelic  Society,  the  value  of  which  is  announced  at  no  less  a  figure  than 
;^50,ooo.  The  portion  of  this  gentleman's  collection,  which  consists 
practically  of  the  rarities  only,  acquired  by  the  above  firm  contains  such 
"plums"  as  the  following:  Hawaiian  Isles,  thirteen  copies  of  the  first  issue; 
Ceylon,  imperf.,  4d.,  8d.,  Qd.,  and  2s.,  in  absolutely  mint  condition  ;  Cape 
of  Good  Hope,  pairs  of  the  4d.,  red,  and  id.,  blue,  errors  ;  Western  Australia, 
4d.,  blue,  inverted  frame,  and  a  pair  of  the  6d.,  bronze,  rouletted  (probably 
the  pair);  Moldavia,  108  paras,  unused;  India,  four  annas,  red  and  blue, 
with  inverted  frame  ;  while  all  countries,  including  such  as  British  North 
America  and  United  States,  are  represented  by  singles,  pairs,  and  blocks 
of  the  rarer  specimens  in  the  pink  of  perfection. 

The  sale  of  this  collection  will   undoubtedly  establish  some   records  in 
big  prices ;  and,  if  we  hear  rightly,  some  of  these  are  already  forthcoming. 


THE  C.   H.  MEKEEL   STAMP   COMPANY. 

E  are  exceedingly  sorry  to  read  in  the  Chicago  Daily  News  and  many 
other  journals  various  accounts  of  the  financial  troubles  of  this  well- 
known  firm.  We  had  hoped  that,  as  stated  in  the  columns  of  an  American 
Philatelic  contemporary,  the  troubles  of  the  firm  were  simply  due  to  over- 
stocking, and  that  it  might,  as  Mr.  G.  D.  Mekeel  estimated,  be  one  that 
time  would  enable  this  well-known  firm  to  overcome. 

"St.  Louis,  Mo.,  March  26. — Two  chattel  mortgages  given  by  the  Mekeel  Stamp  and 
Publishing  Company  to  creditors  have  been  filed  for  record.  The  first  is  for  $13,282 
to  W.  B.  Becktold  as  trustee  for  the  Becktold  Printing  and  Publishing  Company  and 
others,  for  whom  he  acts  as  trustee.  These  are  made  preferred  creditors.  The  second 
mortgage  is  for  $27,050.  W.  Becktold  and  VV.  A.  Frank  are  chosen  as  trustees  for  the 
creditors,  who  number  eighty-two.  Both  mortgages  cover  the  Mekeel  Company's 
stock  of  stamps  and  other  property.  George  D.  Mekeel,  Vice-President  of  the  Company, 
states  that  'the  assests  of  the  Company  represent  more  than  $200,000.  We  have  no 
debts  but  those  mentioned  in  the  mortgages.'" 

It  seems,  however,  to  be  "  the  end,"  for  Mr.  C.  H.  Mekeel  announces  in 
his  journal  of  April  8th  that  "the  affairs  of  the  C.  H.  Mekeel  Stamp  and 
Publishing  Company  having  become  involved,  the  Directors  have  placed  the 
property  in  the  hands  of  Trustees   for   the  benefit  of  the  creditors.     The 


92  OCCASIONAL  NOTES. 

assets  are  ample,  and  there  is  no  doubt  but  that  all  the  creditors  will  be 
paid  in  full.  All  the  creditors  are  protected.  I  am  at  present  assisting 
the  Trustees  in  getting  matters  settled  up.  The  corporation  will  no 
doubt  go  into  liquidation  and  wind  up  its  affairs.  After  I  have  done 
all  that  I  can  to  assist  in  this  matter,  I  shall  start  in  the  stamp  business 
individually  on  my  own  account." 


THE  DEMAND  FOR  RARE  STAMPS. 


E  hear  from  the  United  States  that  the  disposal  by  auction  of  Mr.  J.  B. 
Leavy's  splendid  collection  of  the  stamps  of  that  country  was  what 
Society  journals  term  a  brilliant  function.  The  stamp  world  turned  up  in 
force,  and  without  exception,  says  the  A.  jf.  P.,  "the  stamps  were  sold  at 
magnificent  prices,  proving  again  that  where  a  collection  is  properly  handled 
and  properly  catalogued  the  buyers  will  turn  out  in  full  force."  This  last 
point  has  been  the  text  of  many  sermons  on  our  part.  London  auctioneers 
or  Continental  dealers  can  more  than  supply  the  demand  for  medium  stamps, 
and  can  and  do  overload  the  market  with  specimens  more  or  less  undesirable 
as  to  condition. 

The  ordinary  shades  of  the  first  issue  of  Schleswig-Holstein  can,  e.g.,  be 
purchased  everywhere,  medium  Swiss  Cantonals  are  overpriced,  and  late 
issues  of  Leeward  Islands  are  as  "leaves  in  Vallombrosa";  but  let  any  col- 
lector, whether  in  faint-hearted  Berlin,  temporarily  inactive  Paris,  or  sanguine 
London,  step  outside  the  area  before  alluded  to,  and  he  will  discover  that  for 
stamps  which  are  really  rare  and  fine  the  demand  is  enormously  in  advance 
of  the  supply.  The  German  metropolis  is  the  centre  of  pessimism,  but  in 
our  experience  the  prices  demanded  for  rarities  sent  from  Berlin,  Leipsic, 
Frankfort,  Cologne,  Baden,  Vienna,  Bohemia,  and  many  other  centres,  far 
transcend  in  magnitude  those  dreamt  of  in  this  country,  where  everything  is 
supposed  to  be  overpriced.  We  have  seen  ij^ioo  asked  for  a  stamp  that 
— though  rare — would  not  command  £\o  in  London,  and  we  have  seen 
stamps  of  the  German  States  for  which — in  brilliant  condition — many  times 
the  prices  of  the  Grey  Senf  are  demanded.  We  feel  con\-inced  that  if  a 
small  travelling  committee,  sent  from  our  friends  in  Berlin,  were  to  personally 
inspect  the  auctions  and  the  stocks  of  a  few  leading  Continental  dealers  during 
a  course  of  a  {&\n  weeks,  the  scales  would  fall  from  their  eyes.  We  sincerely 
hope  that  the  forthcoming  Philatelic  Exhibition  may  form  some  such  pretext, 
and  we  shall  then  be  able  to  assure  our  confreres  in  Berlin,  or  elsewhere,  that 
our  only  differences  are  those  of  opinion,  and  that  one  and  all  will  be 
delighted  to  have  the  opportunity  of  repaying  in  some  degree  the  great 
courtesy  and  kindness  we  have  all  experienced  at  their  hands. 


OCCASIONAL  NOTES.  93 


JUBILEE    HOSPITAL  ''STAMPS." 


M 


HE  announcement  following  has  been  generally  communicated  to  the 
Press,  and  it  will  be  seen  from  the  minutes  of  the  London  Philatelic 
Society  that  the  "Secretary  reported  that  he  had  received  a  communication 
from  the  President  in  reference  to  the  proposed  issue  of  Hospital  'stamps/ 
of  which  notice  had  appeared  in  the  papers.  His  Royal  Highness,  in 
explaining  exactly  what  was  proposed  to  be  done,  had  expressed  the  hope 
that  as  the  stamps  in  question  would  not  be  available  for  postage,  and  were 
not  intended  to  be  issued  in  connection  with  the  postal  service,  Philatelists 
of  all  classes  would  see  their  way  to  give  their  hearty  support  to  the  scheme, 
which  had  been  proposed  for  the  sole  object  of  benefiting  the  Prince  of 
Wales'  Hospital  Fund."  The  meeting  thoroughly  endorsed  the  Hon.  See's 
statement  of  the  case. 

The  raison  d'etre  of  these  labels  is  thus  clearly  set  forth  as  being 
benevolent  and  not  postal,  and  it  therefore  behoves  all  Philatelists,  as  loyal 
subjects,  to  do  all  they  can  in  furtherance  of  the  good  purpose  for  which 
these  "  receipt  stamps "  have  been  designed.  The  debt  of  the  Philatelic 
community  in  this  country  to  Royalty  is  so  heavy  that  nothing  can  repay  it, 
and  it  is  the  more  incumbent  upon  us  all,  therefore,  to  evince  in  some  small 
measure  our  gratitude  by  endeavouring  to  promote  the  sale  of  these  stamps 
in  every  possible  way.  They  are  exceedingly  beautiful  in  design,  and  will 
doubtless,  as  mementoes  of  the  Jubilee  of  Her  Gracious  Majesty,  have 
and  retain  a  financial  value  that  their  brethren  who  are  strictly  within  the 
Philatelic  fold  may  often  fail  to  achieve.  It  is  probable  that  there  will  be 
an  unprecedented  demand  for  them  among  all  sections  of  Her  Majesty's 
lieges,  and  we  are  sure  that  Philatelists  will  not  be  laggard  in  their  loyalty 
when  they  recollect  the  gracious  connection  of  Her  Majesty's  son  and 
grandson  with  their  pursuit. 

"  Much  consideration  has  been  given  to  the  problem  of  how  to  place  it  within  the 
means  of  everybody  in  London  to  contribute  to  the  form  of  commemoration  for 
London  approved  by  the  Queen,  as  embodied  in  the  Prince  of  Wales's  Hospital  Fund. 
As  the  easiest  and  readiest  way  of  enabling  people  of  all  classes  with  the  minimum  of 
trouble  to  subscribe  to  the  Hospital  Fund,  the  Prince  of  Wales  has  approved  a  design 
for  two  stamps  of  the  face  value  of  is.  and  2s.  6d.  respectively,  which  has  been 
prepared  by  the  Government  contractors,  Messrs.  De  La  Rue  &  Co.,  who  have 
given  the  blocks  and  drawings  free  of  charge.  The  wholesale  distribution  of  these 
stamps  has  been  undertaken  by  Messrs.  Simpkin,  Marshall,  Hamilton,  Kent,  &  Co. 
(Limited),  of  Stationers'  Hall  Court.  The  stamps  will  be  ready  after  Easter.  The 
issue  will  be  strictly  limited  in  number,  and  no  reissue  will  be  made.  The  stamps 
may  be  procured  through  any  bookseller,  newsagent,  stationer,  or  stamp-seller.  The 
design  of  the  stamps  is  artistic  and  beautiful,  and,  apart  from  their  popularity 
with  the  smaller  subscribers  to  the  Prince  of  Wales's  Hospital  Fund,  they 
are  calculated  to  excite  great  interest  amongst  Philatelists,  of  whose  Society  the 
Duke  of  York  is  the  President." 


94  OCCASIONAL  NOTES. 


THE  LATE  MR.  J.   K.    TIFFANY. 

T  is  with  tlie  deepest  regret  that  we  hear  of  the  premature  and 
unexpected  death  of  a  Philatehst  whose  name  was  respected  and 
honoured  equally  in  this  country  and  in  the  United  States  during  the 
past  quarter  century.  After  a  comparatively  short  illness  Mr.  Tiffany 
expired  on  the  3rd  March  last,  just  after  attaining  his  fifty-fifth  birthday.  The 
deceased  gentleman  was  a  lawyer,  but  had  for  many  years  abandoned  active 
practice,  devoting  his  time  to  attending  to  the  large  real  estate  that  he 
had  acquired  as  a  paternal  inheritance.  Universally  beloved  and  respected, 
Mr.  Tiffany's  removal  will  leave  a  sad  blank  among  Philatelists,  and  will 
plunge  a  wide  circle  of  relatives  and  friends  into  the  keenest  grief.  Mr. 
Tiffany's  writings  on  Philately  are  widely  known,  and  have  always  been  held 
as  evincing  scientific  research  of  the  highest  order.  His  work  on  the  stamps 
of  the  United  States  is  perhaps  his  most  enduring  title  to  fame ;  but  in  many 
other  branches  of  Philately  he  has  established  a  reputation  that  will  hold  him 
in  high  esteem  as  long  as  stamps  are  collected. 

From  the  formation  of  the  American  Philatelic  Association  down  to  last 
year  Mr.  Tiffany  was  President,  and  his  eloquence  in  the  chair  has  become  a 
universal  theme  of  admiration  in  his  own  country.  As  a  collector  Mr.  Tiffany 
may  truly  be  held  to  be  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  science,  who  in  company 
with  the  late  E.  L.  Pemberton,  Judge  Philbrick,  Dr.  Legrand,  Herr  vorj 
Ferrary,  and  others,  were  already  forming  their  collection  on  true  Philatelic 
lines  five-and-twenty  years  before  the  general  spread  of  knowledge  thereon. 
In  many  of  the  English  Colonies,  notably  Australian,  in  Afghanistan,  and  in 
the  United  States  Stamps  and  Locals — St.  Louis,  to  wit — the  late  President 
of  the  A.P.A.  showed  by  his  grasp  of  minor  varieties  and  his  system  of 
Philatelic  arrangement  that  his  was  a  master  hand. 

Although  of  later  years  his  collection  had  not  been  materially  increased, 
we  understand  that  it  has  remained  unbroken,  and  must  to-day  contain 
many  stamps  of  the  deepest  interest  and  rarity.  Deterred  perhaps  by 
the  increasing  prices  and  competition  in  acquiring  rarities,  of  late  years 
Mr.  Tiffany  devoted  his  attention  to  completing  his  already  extensive 
Philatelic  library. 

Methodical  to  a  degree  in  arrangement,  and  untiring  in  his  energy  of 
acquisition,  so  successful  has  Mr.  Tiffany  been  in  this  branch  that  to-day 
the  collection  of  Philatelic  literature  that  he  has  left  behind  him  comprises 
almost  every  known  book,  magazine,  or  publication,  and  stands  confessed  as 
without  a  rival  in  the  world.  In  the  best  interests  of  Philately  in  America  it 
is  most  earnestly  to  be  desired  that  this  magnificent  collection  may  remain 
unbroken  and  accessible,  at  once  affording  an  education  to  successive  genera- 
tions of  collectors,  and  an  enduring  monument  to  the  qualities  of  the  man 
who  formed  it.  By  virtue  of  his  long  connection  with  Philately,  his  high 
character  and  his  talent,  the  late  Mr.  Tiffany  was  the  undoubted  leader  of  the 
pursuit  in  America,  and  his  death  is  a  sad  event  scarcely  more  deplored  in  his 
own  country  than  on  our  own  shores. 


OCCASIONAL  NOTES.  95 


DEATH  OF  DR.    VON  STEPHAN. 


N  illustrious  man  has  passed  away  in  the  death  of  Dr.  Heinrich  von 
Stephan,  the  Postmaster-General  of  the  German  Empire,  who,  in 
addition  to  brilliant  administrative  faculties,  exercised  through  the  trying 
times  of  1870-71  and  continuously  since  in  his  important  duties,  has  created 
for  his  name  an  enduring  record  as  the  founder  of  the  Postal  Union.  To  the 
Philatelic  world  the  foundation  of  this  great  international  agreement  has  been 
fraught  with  numerous  and  important  changes  in  issues,  which,  however,  must 
have  tended  to  reduce  and  simplify  the  postal  varieties  during  the  past 
quarter  of  a  century.  A  still  greater  claim  to  the  affections  of  the  stamp 
world  is,  however,  the  fact  that  Dr.  von  Stephan  was  the  inventor  of  the  now 
ubiquitous  post  card.  By  his  death,  in  his  sixty-seventh  year,  Germany  loses 
one  of  its  most  brilliant  and  devoted  citizens. 


PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION  AT  PLYMOUTH 


N  interesting  "display  of- stamps"  by  members  of  the  Plymouth 
Philatelic  Society  was  held  on  Saturday,  February  27th,  at  9a, 
Princess  Square,  in  a  large  room  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  Society  for 
their  meetings  by  Mr.  W.  Earl,  solicitor.  It  was  the  first  exhibition  organized 
by  the  Society  during  the  current  session,  and  both  in  the  growth  in  number 
and  variety  of  the  exhibits,  and  the  larger  attendance  of  visitors  compared 
with  previous  displays,  showed  evidence  of  increased  interest  in  Philately 
in  the  district. 

Prominent  among  the  exhibits  was  Mr.  R.  Tyeth  Stevens's  collection 
of  the  stamps  of  Barbados,  which,  though  containing  few  of  the  extremely 
great  rarities,  was  noteworthy  for  its  fine  range  of  shades  of  colour.  Mr. 
Stevens  also  showed  comprehensive  little  collections  of  the  stamps  of 
Antigua,  Bahamas,  Bermuda,  and  Dominica.  Both  series  bore  evidence 
of  extreme  care  and  neatness  in  mounting,  the  stamps  of  Barbados  being 
arranged  on  the  plan  of  the  new  handbook  of  Messrs.  Bacon  and  Napier. 
Mr.  M.  Z.  Kuttner  exhibited  the  stamps  of  St.  Helena,  also  scientifically 
mounted,  each  stamp  being  arranged  in  its  proper  issue,  and  annotated  with 
the  exact  measurements  of  the  overprints  and  length  of  bars.  His  collection 
included  all  the  known  varieties  up  to  the  1894  issue,  and  many  minor 
varieties  that  are  not  catalogued.  Mr.  Kuttner  also  sent  nearly  a  dozen 
sheets  of  rarities,  including  complete  sets  of  used  Ionian  Isles,  a  pair  of  £^ 
British  Bechuanaland  stamps,  several  Cape  wood  blocks,  including  the  scarce 
damaged  cliche ;  a  20s.  Gold  Coast  stamp ;  a  magnificent  used  copy  of  the 
5s.,  blue,  Lagos ;  complete  sets  of  the  early  issues  of  the  Mauritius  stamps, 
showing  different  states  of  the  plates;  unused  pairs  of  unperforated  Gambias; 
and  many  other  fine  examples  of  desirable  stamps  that  excited  the  admir- 
ation and  envy  of  collectors.  Mr.  A.  R.  Barrett  sent  a  collection  of  unused 
Jamaica  stamps,  which  were  greatly  admired  for  their  fine  range  of  shades. 
Among  them  were  blocks  of  the  early  pine  issue,  and  the  split  id.  pine 
on    the   entire   cover,   and    a   curious   double   surcharge.      Besides   a    fairly 


96  OCCASIONAL  NOTES. 

complete  set  of  the  stamps  of  Gibraltar,  Mr.  H.  W.  Mayne  sent  a  number  of 
Cape  of  Good  Hope  stamps,  including  some  fine  pairs  of  the  early  stamps, 
and  a  well-selected  series  of  the  later  issues.  Mr.  J.  E.  V.  Moreton  showed 
a  small  group  of  Tonga  stamps.  Being  all  of  comparatively  recent  issue, 
and  consequently  not  well  known,  they  attracted  a  good  deal  of  attention. 
While  they  could  not  be  commended  for  beauty  of  execution,  they  were 
remarkable  for  the  extraordinary  variety  of  surcharges,  which  created  a  good 
deal  of  comment,  and  elicited  many  inquiries  as  to  their  meaning.  Mr.  W. 
J.  W.  Miller  contributed  several  sheets,  showing  the  various  issues  of  the 
stamps  of  Norway,  including  the  extremely  rare  error  of  the  first  issue 
and  nearly  all  the  newly-discovered  minor  varieties.  Mr.  Preston  Pearce 
lent  his  very  fine  collection  of  United  States  Revenue  stamps,  comprising 
some  seventy  pages  of  his  album,  and  including  many  of  the  scarce  stamps 
that  are  now  fetching  very  high  prices  in  America.  Owing  to  absence 
from  Plymouth,  the  President  (Major  G.  H.  W.  Stockdale,  R.E.)  was  unable 
to  send  his  fine  collection  of  Spanish  stamps  as  promised,  but  these  will 
be  included  in  the  next  display  held  by  the  Society. 

The  exhibits  were  well  arranged  and  classified,  and  several  members  of 
the  Committee  courteously  conducted  the  visitors  round  the  room  and 
explained  the  various  features  of  the  different  collections.  Many  of  the 
collectors  who  visited  the  exhibition  expressed  gratification  at  finding  so 
active  and  vigorous  a  Philatelic  Society  existing  in  Plymouth,  and  were 
surprised  to  learn  that  over  ;^2000  worth  of  stamps  were  on  view  in  the 
room. 

Another  display  will  take  place  towards  the  end  of  the  session,  and  we 
are  asked  to  state  that  collectors  wishing  to  join  the  Society  may  obtain 
information  from  the  Hon.  Secretary,  Mr.  W.  J.  W.  Miller,  5,  Athenceum 
Terrace;  or  the  Vice-President,  Mr.  Tyeth  Stevens,  6,  St.  James's  Terrace. 


[      97      ] 


i^^to  Issitts. 


NOTES   OF   NEW,    AND   VARIATIONS  OF  CURRENT,    ISSUES. 
(Varieties  of  Obsolete  Stamps,  and  Discoveries,  will  be  found  under  "Philatelic  Notes.") 

We  do  not  profess  to  chronicle  everything,  but,  with  the  kind  help  of  correspo7idents,  are  desirous  that 
all  the  important  novelties  may  be  included.  Speculative  stamps — i.e.  those  not  really  required  for 
postal  purposes— will  be  cotisidered  on  their  merits,  and  Jubilee  issues  will  not  be  chronicled. 

Members  of  the  London  Philatelic  Society,  and  other  readers  generally,  are  invited  to  co-operate  with  us 
in  making  the  columns  as  interesting  as  possible.  Our  foreign  readers  can  especially  help  us  in 
this  direction,  by  sending  copies  of  any  official  documents  relative  to  changes  in  the  current  issues, 
or  early  inti7nation  of  any  new  issue,  accompanied,  when  possible,  by  a  specimen;  such  information 
will  be  duly  credited  to  the  correspondent,  and,  if  desired,  the  specimen  promptly  returned. 
Address:  Editor  "London  Philatelist,"  Effingham  House,  Arundel  Street,  Strand, 
London,  W.C. 


BRITISH   EMPIRE, 

British  Central  Africa. — In  our 
February  issue  (page  50)  we  chronicled 
some  changes  in  colours  on  the  authority 
of  our  contemporaries  ;  we  have  since  learnt 
that  the  stamps  mentioned  are  the  fiscal- 
postals  which  we  have  already  alluded  to  on 
page  359,  vol.  v.  Messrs.  Whitfield  King  & 
Co.  have  now  sent  for  our  inspection  a  set 
of  the  watermarked  stamps  just  received 
from  the  Colony.    These  are  as  follows  : — 

Adhesives.     id.,  black  wmk.  Cr.  CA. 

2d.,  green  and  black  ,,  ,, 

4d.,  brown-buff  and  black        ,,  ,, 

6d.,  ultramarine  and  black       ,,  ,, 

IS.,  pink  and  black  ,,  ,, 

2S.  6d.,  mauve  and  black         ,,  Cr.  CC. 
35.,  orange-yellow  and  black  ,,  ,, 

5s.,  olive  and  black  ,,  ,, 

£1,  ultramarine  and  black       ,,  ,, 

British  South  Africa  Company. — 
Again  we  are  indebted  to  Mr.  J.  F.  Jones 
for  being  able  to  describe  the  new  designs, 
which  have  been  engraved  by  Messrs. 
Waterlow  &  Sons,  for  the  Company's  new 
issue  of  stamps.  These  are  two  in  number, 
consisting  of  one  design  for  all  values  up  to 
and  including  the  sixpence,  and  the  other 
for  the  one  shilling  and  higher  values. 
Both  are  of  upright  rectangular  shape, 
measuring  23  x  19  mm.,  and  in  the  case  of 
the  former  the  Arms  of  the  Company  appear 
in  the  centre,  the  value  in  figures  on  square 
tablets  in  the  upper  corners,  and  in  words 
on  a  straight  tablet  at  the  base,  "  British  " 
"  South  Africa  Company "  in  two  curved 
lines  of  Roman  capitals  above  the  Arms. 


The  design  for  the  higher  values  contains 
the  Arms  in  the  centre,  figures  at  top  and 
words  at  base,  as  already  described  ;  but 
the  words  "  British  South  Africa "  above 
the  Arms  are  in  Roman  capitals  on  a  semi- 
circular tablet,  supported  by  pillars,  the 
word  "  Company "  being  inserted  within 
the  inner  curve.  Although  these  stamps 
are  being  printed,  they  will  not  be  put  into 
use  until  the  stock  of  the  re-engraved 
stamps  is  exhausted.  When  printed,  four 
panes  of  60  stamps  each  will  form  a  sheet 
of  240  stamps,  and  the  values  will  be : 
First  design,  ^d.,  id.,  2d.,  2|d.,  3d.,  4d.,  6d.; 
second  design,  is.,  2s.  6d.,  5s.,  los.  As  soon 
as  we  hear  these  stamps  are  in  use,  we  will 
illustrate  and  add  a  formal  chronicle. 

Cape  of  Good  Hope.— The  issue  of  the 
2d.  and  4d.  stamps  in  the  new  colours  is 
announced. 

Adhesives.     2d. ,  brown;  perf.  14. 
4d.,  olive  ,,     ,, 

Great  Britain.  —  We  have  received 
inquiries  as  to  the  "Hospital"  stamps, 
which  we  understand  are  to  be  put  on  sale 
after  Easter.  These,  as  alluded  to  else- 
where, will  have  absolutely  no  postal  value, 
and  will  in  reality  be  merely  receipts  for 
money  contributed  to  the  Hospital  Fund. 
It  is  an  evidence  of  the  common  sense  of 
the  Postal  authorities  that  all  the  suggestions 
for  a  commemorative  stamp  have  been  re- 
fused. The  Philatelic  Record,  however, 
assures  us  that  this  year  will  see  a  new 
series   of  adhesives   put   into  circulation — 


98 


NEW  ISSUES. 


news  for  the  confirmation  of  which  we  must 
be  content  to  wait. 

Native  Indian  States.— The  Philatelic 
Journal  of  India  enlightens  us  as  to  the 
character  of  the  stamps  which  have  been 
chronicled  for  the  Native  States  of  Charkhari 
and  Duttia.  Both  these  States  are  in  Bun- 
delkhund,  not  far  from  Jhansi,  Central  India. 
The  Charkari  stamps  are  five  in  number, 
with  two  additional  envelopes.  It  appears 
that  Duttia  has  had  a  post  office  and  postage 
stamps  since  1893,  and  the  present  service 
consists  of  one  head  office  and  nine  branch 
offices.  The  stamps  are  printed  at  a  private 
press,  and  it  is  said  an  ingenious  device  is 
resorted  to  in  order  to  prevent  forgery.  No 
stamp,  envelope,  or  post  card  is  available  for 
prepayment  of  postage  until  it  bears  the 
impression  of  the  Maharajah's  seal.  The 
stamps,  which  our  contemporary  illustrates, 
are  of  a  type-set  rectangle,  25  mm.  high 
and  20  mm.  broad.  In  the  centre  the  figure 
of  the  god  Ganesh  appears,  on  the  left-hand 
side,  reading  upwards,  is  the  word  "  Duttia," 
at  the  top  "  State,"  and  on  the  right-hand 
side,  reading  downwards,  "  Postage,"  value 
in  Hindi  at  base,  the  whole  design  being 
enclosed  in  a  single-lined  upright  rectangular 
frame.  There  is  a  second  type  with  a  trefoil 
border  and  inscription  in  Hindi  at  base 
only.  Both  types  are  printed  in  a  hand- 
press  one  at  a  time — in  the  case  of  Type  i, 
in  horizontal  strips  of  six,  and  in  the  case 
of  Type  2,  horizontal  strips  of  eight.  There 
are  also  envelopes  and  post  cards,  of  which 
we  can  only  at  present  mention  the  exist- 
ence. The  Maharajah's  seal,  which  gives 
the  stamps  their  postal  value,  is  circular,  23 
mm.  in  diameter ;  in  the  centre  is  the  figure 
of  a  god  sitting  cross-legged,  surrounded  by 
a  Hindi  inscription,  and  finished  off  with  a 
beaded  border.  The  seal  is  impressed  in 
various  coloured  inks,  and  when  used 
through  the  post  is  cancelled  with  a  pen 
mark,  and  the  stamp  by  an  oval  obliteration 
bearing  the  words,  "  Head  Office,  Raj 
Duttia,"  in  Hindi. 

The  varieties   at   present  known   are   as 
follows  : — 

CHARKARI. 


Aiihesives.    \ 

anna,  rose. 

i 

,,      purple. 

I 

>,      green. 

2 

11               M 

4 

>t               J» 

Envelopes.    \ 

inna,  rose. 

\ 

,,     purple. 

DUTTIA. 

Adhesive!. 
\  anna,  black  on  orange-red ;  thin  wove  paper.    Type  z. 
2     ..  :i      0    I'S^'i  blue-green         „         ,,  „ 

1  ,,       red,  on  luhite  wove  paper.     Type  i. 

2  ,,       \Ad^zV,  ox\ yellow;  thin  ivove paper.     Type  i. 
4     11         II       II    rose;  thin  wove  p.iper      Type  i. 

Envelopes. 
J  anna,  black,  on  thin  white  laid  paper,  120  X  63  mm. 
Post  Card. 
\  anna,  black,  on  stout  white  wove  paper,  21  x  21  mm. 

New  South  Wales. —  Our  Special 
Correspondent  sends  us  the  9d.  and  lod. 
adhesives,  both  with  the  watermark  Crown 
and  N  S  W(Type  II.)  ;  these  were  issued  on 
February  loth.  The  surcharge  on  the 
former  is  in  smaller  type,  measuring  13^  mm. 
in  length,  in  place  of  I4|mm.,  while  the 
perforation  is  12,  in  place  of  11  x  10.  The 
lod.  is  of  a  bright  lilac  colour,  and  perfor- 
ated 11x12  in  place  of  11  x  10. 

Adhesives.     gd.,  red-brown, 
lod.,  lilac. 

Mr.  A.  F.  Basset-Hull  writes  :  "  I  find 
now  that  the  old  plate  (De  La  Rue's)  has 
been  used  for  these  printings.  The  superior 
appearance  and  clear  printing  at  first  led 
me  to  believe  that  a  new  electro  had  been 
made." 

Queensland.— The  first  of  the  "figures 
in  four  corners"  type  has  appeared  for 
Queensland  in  the  shape  of  a  id.  wrapper. 
The  issue  of  this  band  was  rendered  neces- 
sary by  an  alteration  in  the  newspaper  rate, 
which  is  now  id.  per  2  oz.  The  stamp  is  of 
the  current  type,  but  with  the  additional 
figures  "11  ■'  in  the  top  corners.  It  is  a 
shocking  example  of  the  effect  of  continued 
tinkering.  Colour,  dull  brick-red,  on  manilla 
paper ;  inscription  in  six  lines  above  the 
stamp:  "This  wrapper  may  only  be  used  for 
newspapers,  or — for  such  documents  as  are 
allowed  to  be  sent  at  the — Book-rate  of 
postage,  and  must  not  enclose  any  letter — 
or  communication  of  the  nature  of  a  letter 
(whether  separate — or  otherwise).  If  this 
rule  be  infringed,  the  packet  will — be 
charged  as  a  letter."  Size  of  wrapper  290  x 
125  mm. 

IVrapper.     id.,  dull  red  on  manilla. 

Seychelles. — The  D.  B.  Z.  chronicles 
three  new  values  of  the  current  type. 

Adhesives.    i8  c,  blue. 

36  c,  brown  and  carmine. 
I  rupee,  deep  lilac  and  carmine. — A.  J.  of  Ph. 

Sierra  Leone. — We  regret  exceedingly 
having  to  chronicle  a  long  list  of  fiscal- 
postals  and  surcharges,  which  have  appeared 
in    this    otherwise    upright    Colony.      The 


NEW  ISSUES. 


99 


Philatelic  Record  has  received  the  id. 
fiscal,  surcharged  in  black  "  Postage — and 
— Revenue,"  in  three  lines  of  small  capitals. 
In  addition  to  this  the  3d.  and  6d.  fiscal 
stamps  have  been  overprinted,  with  the  same 
inscription  described  above,  and  in  addition, 
"2^d.,"  there  being  four  varieties  of  this 
surcharge.  Messrs.  Whitfield  King  &  Co. 
inform  us  that  the  surcharge  is  printed  in  two 
operations,  each  half-sheet  of  thirty  stamps 
being  separately  overprinted,  thus  the  top 
and  bottom  halves  of  the  sheet  show  the 
same  variations  of  type.  This  occurs  in 
both  the  3d.  and  6d.  values. 

Adhesives.     id.,  green  and  lilac. 

"  2^d."  on  3d.,  green  and  lilac,  three  types. 
"zjd."  on  6d.  ,,  ,,  ,, 

South  Australia. — Mr.  George  Blockey 
sends  us  a  strip  of  the  current  halfpenny 
stamps,  which  have  changed  somewhat  in 
colour,  the  dark  brown  being  replaced  by  a 
distinct  Venetian  red.  The  stamps  have  the 
appearance  of  having  been  printed  from  a 
new  electro  plate. 

Adhesive.     Jd.,  Venetian  red,  perf.  13. 

EUROPE. 

Italy. — We  illustrate  the  new  type  of  the 
5  c.  adhesive  described  last  month. 


This  would  be  the  stamp  we  chronicled  last 
month. 

There  is  one  error  in  each  sheet  of  150, 
"CNIO"  instead  of  "CINQ." 

Adhesive.     5  paras,  green,  black  surcharge. 


Monaco. — Le  T.-P.  announces  the  follow- 
ing changes  in  colour. 

Adhesives.     50  c,  bistre  on  yellow. 

5  francs,  bright  rose  on  greenish. 

Sweden. — The  issue  of  the  5  c.  adhesive 
is  announced  in  a  new  shade — yellow-green. 

Adhesive.     5  c,  yellow-green. 

Switzerland. — We  have  received  the  i  c. 
Unpaid  Letter  Stamp  from  Messrs.  Whitfield 
King  &  Co.,  in  dark  yellow-green,  with  the 
figure  in  red  in  the  centre,  perforation 
1 2  X  1 1  J. 

Unpaid  Letter  Stavtp.     i  c.  yellow-green  and  red. 

Turkey. — We  annex  an  illustration  of 
the  surcharge  chronicled  last  month,  copies 
of  which  are  to  hand  from  Messrs.  Whitfield 
King  &  Co.  There  are  two  varieties,  one 
with  overprint  in  black  and  the  other  in  red. 
The  latter  is  said  to  be  a  special' stamp  for 
publishers  who  post  newspapers  in  quantities  ! 


AMERICA. 

Argentine  Republic.  —  The  Weekly 
Stamp  News  announces  the  decease  of  the 
3  c,  orange,  adhesive,  and  the  A.  J.  of  Ph. 
chronicles  the  50  c.  with  the  new  watermark. 

Adhesive.     50  c,  blue-green. 

Brazil. — Le  T.-P.  announces  that  the 
10  reis  adhesive  has  been  redrawn.  The 
word  "  DEZ  "  to  the  left  of  the  label  at  base 
is  replaced  by  the  word  "reis,"  and  the 
figures  of  value  "lo"  are  smaller  but 
thicker. 

Adhesive.     10  reis,  carmine  and  blue,  redrawn. 

Paraguay. — The  lo  c.  adhesive,  which 
has  formerly  been  in  use  with  a  circular  hole 
punched  out  to  prevent  the  stamp  being 
fraudulently  surcharged  and  passed  as  the 
Jubilee  issue,  has  now  been  issued  entire. 

Peru.  — Messrs.  Whitfield  King  &  Co. 
have  shown  us  two  unpaid  stamps,  being 
the  50  c.  and  i  sol  stamps  of  1886  sur- 
charged "deficit,"  in  sans-serif  capitals, 
diagonally  from  left  to  right,  reading  up- 
wards. 

Unpaid  Letter  Stamps.     50  c,  vermilion,  black  surcharge. 
I  sol,  pale  brown    ,,  ,, 

OTHER   COUNTRIES. 

Congo  Free  State.  — Several  of  our 
contemporaries  announce  new  post  cards, 
bearing  the  lately-issued  lo  c.  and  15  c. 
stamps,  illustrated  on  page  360,  vol.  v. 
They  are  very  handsome,  having  been 
prepared  by  Messrs.  Waterlow  &  Sons. 

Postcards,  lo  c,  red  on  buff. 

10  c,  brown-f  10  c,  green  on  rose  (reply). 

15  c,  blue  +  i5c.,yellow-bro\vnona0!<r«(reply). 

The  first  card  is  intended  for  interior  use 
only,  the  second  is  available  throughout  the 
Postal  Union,  and  the  third  bears  a  similar 
designation. 

Curasao. — Lc  T.-P.  chronicles  the  40  c. 
Unpaid  stamp  in  the  current  type. 

Unpaid  Letter  Stamp.     40  c,  green  and  black. 


lOO 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


German  Colonies.— We  illustrate  two 
of  the  Colonial  surcharges  mentioned  last 
month. 


Hawaiian  Islands.— We  also  give  an 
illustration  of  the  new  stamps  for  the 
Department  of  Foreign  Affairs. 


Orange  Free  State.— Messrs.  Whit- 
field King  &  Co.  send  us  the  halfpenny 
post  card  bearing  the  current  adhesive 
stamp  of  that  value,  printed  in  orange, 
overprinted  with  the  usual  "Arms"  and 
inscriptions. 

Post  Card,    (id.,  orange)  on  black  and  white. 

Persia.— Z^  T.-P.  informs  us  that  the 
profile  of  the  new  Shah,  Muzaffer-Eddin, 
will  appear  on  a  new  series  of  stamps  which 
should  be  issued  this  month.  The  values  are 
to  be  I,  2,  3,  4,  5,  8,  lo,  12,  16  shahi,  and  i, 
2)  3>  4>  S)  io>  and  50  krans,  which  would 
suggest  that  the  new  issue  is  being  prepared 
for  higher  (!)  service  than  that  of  the  re- 
quirements of  the  Post  Office. 

Surinam. — The  40  c.  unpaid  stamp  is  in 
use  here  also. 

Unpaid  Letter  Stamp.    40  c.,  green-black. 


|nl^ilaklrc  S0tixtics'  Igc^ttngs. 


THE  PHILATELIC  SOCIETY,  LONDON. 


Honorary  President — H.R.H.  The  Duke  of  Saxe-Coburg  and  Gotha,  K.G.,  &c. 

Council  for  the  Year  1895-96 : 

President— H.R.H.  The  Duke  of  York,  K.G. 
Vice-President — M.  P.  Castle. 


Hon.  Secretary — ^J.  A.  TiLLEARD. 

Ho7i.    Treasitrer — C.   N.   BiGGS. 

E.  D.  Bacon.  I 

R.  Ehrenbach. 


E.  B.  Evans. 
D.  Garth. 


Hon.  Assistant  Secretary — R.   Pearce. 
Librarian — T.  Maycock. 

I         T.  WicKHAM  Jones. 
H.  R.  Oldfield. 


The  nineteenth  meeting  of  the  season  was 
held  at  Effingham  House  on  Friday,  the  12th 
March,  at  7.45  p.m.,  the  members  in 
attendance  being :  Messrs.  E.  D.  Bacon, 
F.  W.  Ayer,  H.  R.  Oldfield,  R.  Meyer,  R. 
Frentzel,  W.  Silk,  T.  Maycock,  A.  R. 
Barrett,  C.  McNaughtan,  J.  C.  Potter,  E.  J. 
Nankivell,  R.  Pearce,  Gordon  Smith,  and 
J.  A.  Tilleard. 

In  the  absence  of  the  Vice-President 
abroad,  the  chair  was  taken  by  Mr.  Bacon, 
and  the  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were 
read  and  confirmed. 

Mr.  Bacon,  in  calling  attention  to  the 
presence  of  Mr.  F.  W.  Ayer,  referred  to  the 
prominent  position  taken  by  him  in  Phila- 


telic circles  in  America,  and  in  the  name 
of  the  Society  assured  Mr.  Ayer  of  the 
pleasure  which  it  gave  to  members  to  see 
him  at  the  meeting.  Mr.  Ayer,  in  acknow- 
ledging the  welcome  accorded  him,  was 
good  enough  to  promise  to  show  his 
unrivalled  collection  of  the  stamps  of  St. 
Louis  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Society. 

Mr.  Gordon  Smith  then  read  a  paper 
entitled,  "  Notes  on  the  Later  Issues  of  the 
Transvaal,"  which  dealt  with  the  stamps  of 
the  second  Republic.  In  describij-g  the 
several  issues,  which  were  illustrated  by 
specimens  of  the  stamps  themselves,  the 
question  of  the  variety  of  type  of  the 
surcharge   of    1882— een-penny  on   the  4d., 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


lOI 


sage-green — was  dealt  with,  and  the  various 
surcharges  employed  and  the  reasons  for 
their  use  were  explained.  The  question  of 
perforations  was  also  fully  considered  and 
exhaustively  treated.  The  varieties  to  be 
sought  for  were  detailed,  and  many  novel 
items  of  information  and  matters  requiring 
further  investigation  were  introduced  by 
Mr.  Gordon  Smith  in  the  able  paper  which 
he  had  prepared. 

An  interesting  discussion  ensued,  in  which 
Mr.  Nankivell  and  Mr.  Pearce,  as  the  lead- 
ing collectors  of  Transvaal  stamps,  took 
part,  the  latter  quoting  the  figures  which  he 
had  compiled  to  show  the  relative  degrees 
of  scarcity  of  some  of  the  perforations  to 
be  found  in  the  stamps  of  the  1885  issue. 
On  the  conclusion  of  the  discussion  the 
cordial  thanks  of  the  meeting  were  voted 
to  Mr.  Gordon  Smith  for  his  valuable  and 
instructive  paper. 


The  twentieth  meeting  of  the  season  1896-97 
was  held  at  Effingham  House  on  Friday, 
the  19th  March,  1897,  at  7.45  p.m. 

Members  present :  Messrs.  E.  D.  Bacon, 
F.  W.  Ayer,  H.  R.  Oldfield,  R.  Meyer, 
T.  W.  Hall,  R.  Frentzel,  F.  F.  Burg- 
hard,  A.  R.  Barrett,  H.  Hetley,  L.  S. 
Wells,  B.  D.  Knox,  M.  S.  Cooke,  F. 
Ransom,  D.  Ellis,  E.  A.  Elliott,  C.  Mc 
Naughtan,  R.  Pearce,  W.  T.  Wilson,  R. 
Ehrenbach,  C.  N.  Biggs,  J.  C.  Potter,  and 
J.  A.  Tilleard. 

The  chair  having  been  taken  by  Mr. 
Bacon,  in  the  absence  of  the  Vice-President, 
the  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read 
and  confirmed. 

A  letter  from  the  Secretary  of  the  British 
North  Borneo  Company,  with  information  of 
an  alteration  in  the  stamps  of  North  Borneo 
and  Labuan,  so  as  to  include  the  value  in 
Malay  and  Chinese  characters,  was  read, 
and  the  Honorary  Secretary  was  directed  to 
acknowledge  with  thanks  the  receipt  of  the 
information  and  of  specimens  of  the  stamps 
in  question,  which  had  been  forwarded  with 
the  letter. 

Major  A.  B.  Maxwell,  proposed  by  Mr. 
C.  Stewart-Wilson,  and  seconded  by  Mr.  F. 
N.  Schiller,  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
Society. 

Mr.  F.  W.  Ayer  then  showed  his  magnifi- 
cent collection  of  the  stamps  of  St.  Louis, 
in  which  every  known  variety  of  the  stamps 
is  fully  represented.  The  collection  consists 
64a 


of  unused  copies  of  ail  the  types  on  the 
three  different  papers,  reconstructed  plates 
of  all  the  values  and  types,  including  pairs 
and  strips  or  blocks  of  many  of  them,  and  a 
beautiful  series  of  stamps  on  entire  letter 
sheets  or  envelopes.  Mr.  Bacon  gave  an 
elaborate  description  of  the  stamps,  and 
the  several  types  and  varieties,  and  explained 
how  the  collection  had  completely  verified 
the  existence  of  the  20  c.  stamp,  which  for 
many  years  had  been  discredited  by  most 
leading  Philatelists. 

Mr.  Wilson,  in  moving  a  hearty  vote  of 
thanks  to  Mr.  Ayer  for  kindly  giving  the 
display,  explained  his  connection  with  the 
researches  made  by  the  late  Mr.  Pemberton 
in  regard  to  the  St.  Louis  stamps,  and 
expressed  his  gratification  that  Mr.  Pem- 
berton's  views  had  been  so  fully  corroborated 
by  Mr.  Ayer's  investigations.  The  vote 
was  seconded  by  Mr.  Bacon,  and  carried 
unanimously. 

On  the  motion  of  Mr.  Ehrenbach,  seconded 
by  Mr.  Hall,  the  thanks  of  the  meeting  were 
awarded  to  Mr.  Bacon  for  the  interesting 
and  valuable  descriptions  he  had  given. 

The  remainder  of  the  evening  was  occupied 
with  an  inspection  of  Mr.  Frentzel's  fine  col- 
lection of  the  early  issues  of  Mexico. 

In  submitting  the  stamps,  Mr.  Frentzel 
observed  that  in  his  opinion  the  stamps  of 
this  country  offer  to  an  ardent  student  a 
greater  field  for  exploration  than  perhaps 
any  other  country,  and  deserve  much  more 
consideration  than  they  have  hitherto  en- 
joyed. He  explained  that  for  twenty-eight 
years,  from  1856- 1883  inclusive,  the  stamps 
were  surcharged  with  the  names  of  the 
respective  States  where  they  were  issued  ; 
and  for  twenty  years,  from  1864- 1883,  all 
the  stamps  were  dated.  In  addition,  in 
two  instances,  on  the  eagle  and  Maximilian 
issues,  consignment  numbers  were  added, 
and  assuming  that  each  consignment  con- 
veyed a  full  complement  of  stamps,  the  total 
number  of  the  "eagle"  issue  alone  would 
amount  to  3054  stamps,  irrespective  of  any 
varieties  whatever. 

In  proceeding,  Mr.  Frentzel  remarked : 
"  These  three  points,  the  surcharging  of 
the  names  of  the  States,  the  dates,  and 
the  numbers,  offer  in  themselves  sufficient 
material  to  operate  upon  ;  but  this  is  not 
all,  as  we  have  also  to  deal  with  the  various 
styles  and  colours  of  the  surcharges,  the 
former  representing  innumerable  distinct 
types,  and  the  latter  being  found   in   five 


I02 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


distinct  colours — black,  red,  blue,  magenta, 
and  violet. 

"  Furthermore,  we  have  to  deal  with  two 
other  very  important  factors — paper  and 
perforations.  Of  the  former  we  find  :  wove 
paper  of  various  thicknesses,  white  and 
coloured ;  laid  paper  (horizontally  and  verti- 
cally), also  of  various  thicknesses  ;  bdtonne, 
quadrille,  ruled  on  face  and  reverse ;  ribbed 
and  pelure  papers ;  and  lastly,  but  not  least, 
watermarked  papers. 

"  The  perforations  are  also  of  great  variety, 
of  ordinary  machine  perforation,  pin,  round, 
and  square  sawtooth  perforations,  and  roulet- 
ted.  And,  finally,  we  come  across  any  amount 
of  errors,  not  only  in  the  paper  on  which  the 
stamps  are  printed,  but  also  in  their  colours, 
their  surcharges,  and  their  obliterations. 

"  New  discoveries  and  surprises,  in  a 
collection  like  this,  are  continually  cropping 
up,  and  one  of  them,  which  seems  to  have 
passed  observation  hitherto,  is  that  in  most 
of  the  earlier  issues,  up  to  that  of  1884, 
stamps  are  occasionally  found  with  a  small 
round  hole  punched  out  of  them.  I  have  in 
addition  to  a  few  used  copies  an  entire  sheet 
of  the  1872  issue  in  which  the  twenty-fifth 
stamp  is  so  treated,  and  I  shall  be  much 
obliged  if  any  member  can  throw  light  on 
this  subject.  These  stamps  so  marked  seem 
extremely  scarce,  and  I  have  met  with  only 
a  dozen  or  so,  although  I  have  gone  through 
many  thousands  of  stamps." 

The  stamps  shown  comprised  a  very  fine 
series  of  the  issues  from  1856  to  1867,  and 
were  inspected  with  great  interest,  the  best 
thanks  of  the  meeting  being  voted  to  Mr. 
Frentzel  on  the  motion  of  Mr.  Bacon, 
seconded  by  Mr.  Wilson. 


The  twenty-first  meeting  of  the  season  was 
held  at  Effingham  House  on  Friday,  the 
26th  March,  1897,  at  7.45  p.m.,  the  following 
members  being  present,  in  addition  to  one 
visitor,  viz.,  Messrs.  E.  D.  Bacon,  T.  H.  R. 
Crowle,  H.  R.  Oldfield,  R.  Meyer,  R.  Frent- 
zel, W.  R.  Palmer,  C.  N.  Biggs,  A.  R. 
Barrett,  C.  McNaughtan,  R.  Pearce,  and 
J.  A.  Tilleard. 

The  chair  was  taken  by  Mr.  Bacon,  and 
the  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read 
and  confirmed. 

Mr.  Bacon  announced  the  receipt  of  in- 
formation of  the  death  of  Mr.  J.  K.  Tiffany, 
who  had  been  a  member  of  the  Society  for 


many  years.  He  explained  the  great  esteem 
in  which  Mr.  Tiffany  was  held,  and  the  posi- 
tion occupied  by  him  amongst  Philatelists  in 
America,  and  referred  to  the  valuable  work 
which  Mr.  Tiffany  had  done  in  the  best 
interests  of  Philately.  On  the  motion  of 
Mr.  Bacon,  seconded  by  Mr.  Pearce,  it  was 
resolved,  "That  the  members  of  the 
Philatelic  Society,  having  heard  with  very 
great  regret  of  the  death  of  Mr.  J.  K.  Tiffany, 
desire  to  record  their  sense  of  the  great 
services  rendered  by  him  to  Philately,  and 
to  express  their  sincere  sympathy  with  his 
widow  and  family  in  the  great  loss  which 
they  have  sustained." 

Mr.  T.  H.  R.  Crowle  produced  for  the 
inspection  of  members  attending  the  meet- 
ing his  collection  of  the  stamps  of  Hawaii 
issued  between  1853  and  1865,  including  the 
interisland  stamps,  and  read  a  series  of 
notes  he  had  prepared,  containing  a  full 
description  of  the  stamps  comprised  in  the 
issues,^  referred  to,  and  the  varieties  of  types 
to  be  found,  and  explaining  his  views  as  to 
the  order  in  which  the  several  printings 
of  the  interisland  stamps  appeared. 

A  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  to 
Mr.  Crowle,  on  the  motion  of  Mr.  Bacon, 
seconded  by  Mr.  Tilleard,  for  the  interesting 
display  he  had  given,  and  for  the  valuable 
notes,  which,  with  his  consent,  will  be  pub- 
lished in  the  London  Philatelist. 

In  consequence  of  the  Easter  holidays,  it 
was  determined  that  no  meeting  should  be 
held  between  the  9th  and  the  30th  April. 


The  twenty-second  meeting  of  the  season 
was  held  at  Effingham  House  on  Friday, 
the  2nd  April,  1897,  at  7.45  p.m. 

The  members  in  attendance  were  :  Messrs. 
E.  D.  Bacon,  R.  Ehrenbach,  T.  W.  Hall, 
R.  Frentzel,  A.  R.  Barrett,  L.  S.  Wells, 
T.  Maycock,  C.  McNaughtan,  R.  Pearce, 
B.  D.  Knox,  and  J.  A.  Tilleard. 

In  the  absence  of  the  Vice-President,  the 
chair  was  taken  by  Mr.  Bacon,  and  the 
minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and 
confirmed. 

Mr.  F.  E.  Owen,  proposed  by  Mr. 
McNaughtan,  and  seconded  by  the  Secre- 
tary, was  elected  a  member  of  the  Society. 

The  Secretary  reported  that  he  had  re- 
ceived a  communication  from  the  President 
in  reference  to  the  proposed  issue  of  Hos- 
pital Stamps,  of  which  notice  had  appeared 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'   MEETINGS. 


103 


in  the  papers.  His  Royal  Highness,  in 
explaining  exactly  what  was  proposed  to 
be  done,  had  expressed  the  hope  that  as  the 
stamps  in  question  would  not  be  available 
for  postage,  and  were  not  intended  to  be 
issued  in  connection  with  the  postal  service, 
Philatelists  of  all  classes  would  see  their  way 
to  give  their  hearty  support  to  the  scheme, 
which  had  been  proposed  for  the  sole  object 
of  benefiting  the  Prince  of  Wales's  Hospital 
Fund. 

The  general  opinion  expressed  by  the 
members  attending  the  meeting  was  that, 
as  the  Hospital  Stamps  were  not  intended 
to  be  available  for  postal  service,  the 
scheme  was  one  which  should  have  the 
hearty  approval  and  support  of  Philatelists. 


Mr.  R.  Meyer  being  unfortunately  absent 
through  ill-health,  the  display  of  Lagos 
stamps  which  he  was  to  have  given  was 
postponed. 

In  Mr.  Meyer's  absence,  Mr.  T.  W.  Hall 
was  kind  enough  to  produce  for  the  inspec- 
tion of  the  members  present  his  collection  of 
the  type-set  stamps  of  Tolima,  which  he  had 
with  him,  and  to  give  some  interesting  infor- 
mation in  regard  to  the  various  issues,  and  to 
what  he  believed  to  be  an  alteration  in  one 
of  the  plates  which  has  hitherto  remained 
uncatalogued.  Mr.  Hall  was  also  good 
enough  to  promise  to  write  some  notes 
upon  the  early  stamps  of  Tolima  to  be  used 
at  a  later  meeting.  Mr.  Hall's  kindness  in 
making  the  display  was  much  appreciated. 


BIRMINGHAM   PHILATELIC  SOCIETY. 


President — W.  T.  Wilson,  Esq. 
Hon.  Sec.  and  Trcas. — Mr.  G.  Johnson,  B.  A., 

208,  Birchfield  Road,  Birmingham. 


March  4th.— Messrs.  W.  W.  Westwood 
(Birmingham),  J.  J.  Carroll  (U.S.A.),  A.  W. 
Batchelder  (U.S.A.),  A.  F.  Cooke  (Hawaii), 
W.  H.  Hodgson  (London),  and  Mrs.  Mayers 
(Barbados),  were  unanimously  elected  mem- 
bers. A  large  number  of  applications  was 
postponed  or  rejected. 

Mr.  R.  HoUick  then  read  his  paper  on 
"  Used  Stamps,  and  Why  I  Prefer  to  Collect 
Them."  This  was  followed  by  a  spirited 
discussion,  in  which  most  of  the  members 
present  took  part,  from  which  it  was  evident 
that  most  preferred  to  have  both  used  and 
unused.  Mr.  HoUick  afterwards  gave  a 
display  of  his  collection  of  West  Indian 
stamps,  showing  nearly  all  varieties,  used 
and  unused. 

Notice  to  Me7nbers. — It  was  decided  that 
the  name  of  A.  Schlachter  (U.S.A.),  elected 
on  December  17th,  should  not  be  entered  on 
the  list  of  members,  one  of  the  reasons  being 
that  he  has  not  complied  with  a  necessary 
part  of  the  Rules.  His  reference  as  being  a 
member  of  the  Society  should  be  of  no  avail 
in  obtaining  consignments  of  stamps. 


March  1 8th.— Messrs.  G.  B.  Bainbridge 
(Northumberland),  O.  T.  Hodges  (London), 
L.  W.  Grey  (India),  H.  A.  Pocklington 
(New  South  Wales),  were  unanimously 
elected   members. 

Mr.  Pimm  then  gave  his  paper  on 
"  Barbados,"  illustrating  it  by  means  of 
his  own  fine  collection,  and  also  by  a 
grand  lot   shown  by  Mr.   Wilson. 


April  1st. — Messrs.  H.Anderson  (Germany), 
W.  R.  Palmer  (London),  J.  Westhorp  (Lon- 
don), were  unanimously  elected  members. 

Mr.  Walton  presented  a  copy  of  The 
British  Stamp  Directory,  and  Mr.  Wurtell 
some  stamp  journals.  Vote  of  thanks  was 
ordered  to  be  entered  on  the  minutes. 

Owing  to  the  ever-increasing  value  of  the 
packets,  it  was  decided  to  purchase  a  safe  in 
which  to  keep  them  while  being  prepared 
for  circulation. 

Mr.  F.  E.  Wilson  (in  the  unavoidable 
absence  of  Mr.  Lundeblad  through  illness) 
showed  his  fine  collection  of  European 
stamps,  giving  notes  on  the  minor  varieties, 
which  were  very  interesting  and  instructive. 
The  early  issues  of  Austria  and  Norway 
deservedly  came  in  for  a  fair  share  of 
attention. 


I04 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


BRIGHTON  AND  SUSSEX  PHILATELIC  SOCIETY. 


Hon.  President — Baron  de  Worms. 
President — M.  P.  Castle. 
Acting  Hon.  Secretary — W.  T.  Willett,  West  House,  Brighton. 


The  seventh  meeting  of  the  season  1896- 
97  was  held  at  Markwell's  Hotel,  Brighton, 
on   Tuesday,    January    12th,   at    8.15    p.m. 
Nine  members  were  present ;  the  President 
in    the    chair.      After  the  minutes   of   the 
previous  meeting  had  been  read  and  con- 
firmed, Messrs.  Castle,  Willett,  de  Worms, 
and  Marshall  exhibited  their  collections  of 
stamps  of  Great  Britain,  and  several  other 
members  showed  some  interesting  varieties. 
The  members  present  expressed  the  opinion 
that  so  fine  a  display  of  the  stamps  of  this 
country  had  probably  never  previously  been 
exhibited  before  any  society.     Among  the 
rarities  shown  were  ten  V.R.s,  all  the  rare 
varieties  of  the  perforated  id.  and  2d.,  about 
120  of  the  embossed  stamps,  twenty-five  4d. 
small  and  medium  garters,  the  gd.  with  hair 
lines  and  plate  number  5,  twenty  of  the  high 
values,  &;c.     The  less  rare  varieties  were  also 
shown  in  a  very  large  number  of  shades. 
All  the  specimens  were  in  mint  condition. 


The  eighth  meeting  was  held  on  Tuesday, 
January  26th.  Nine  members  were  present. 
In  the  absence  of  the  president,  the  Vice- 
President  took  the  chair.  The  minutes  of 
the  last  meeting  having  been  read  and  con- 
firmed, a  display  of  the  stamps  of  the 
British  Colonies  in  West  Africa  took  place. 


Very  fine  collections  of  unused  were  shown 
practically  complete,  including  all  the  rari- 
ties and  principal  varieties  in  a  profusion  of 
shades,  comprising  a  number  of  pairs  and 
blocks.  Great  interest  was  taken  by  the 
members  present  in  inspecting  the  various 
exhibits. 

The  ninth  meeting  was  held  on  Tuesday, 
February  8th.  Nine  members  were  present. 
In  the  absence  of  the  President,  the  Vice- 
President  took  the  chair.  After  the  minutes 
of  the  last  meeting  had  been  read  and  con- 
firmed, the  Librarian  acknowledged  the 
receipt  of  a  parcel  of  Philatelic  publications 
from  Mr.  Willett.  In  the  unavoidable 
absence  of  Air.  Burrows,  who  was  to  have 
read  a  paper,  no  further  business  was 
transacted. 

The  tenth  meeting  was  held  on  February 
23rd.  Eleven  members  were  present.  The 
Vice-President  took  the  chair.  The  minutes 
of  the  last  meeting  having  been  read  and 
confirmed,  a  display  of  the  stamps  of  Nevis 
took  place.  Extremely  fine  specimens  of 
every  variety  were  shown,  and  with  few 
exceptions  all  unused  ;  also  entire  or  re- 
constructed unused  sheets  of  each  value  of 
the  engraved  and  lithographed  issues,  a 
splendid  copy  of  the  is.  on  laid  paper,  &c. 


MANCHESTER  PHILATELIC  SOCIETY. 

President— \N .  Dorning  Beckton. 
Hon.  Sec. — A.  H.  Harrison. 


The  ninth  meeting  took  place  at  the 
Grand  Hotel  on  February  5th,  the  President 
being  supported  by  ten  members. 

Although  regretting  the  unavoidable 
absence  of  Mr.  J.  H.  Abbott,  the  Committee 
had  arranged  that  the  evening  should  not 
be  unprofitably  spent.  To  attain  this  the 
following  gentlemen  volunteered  to  give  short 
papers,  and  invited  discussions  thereon  : — 


The  Hon.  Secretary  read  a  short  article 
on  the  stamps  of  Iceland.  The  Hon. 
Treasurer  (Mr.  Uuerst)  followed  with  con- 
cise notes  and  useful  information  on  the 
issues  of  Romagna. 

Mr.  Petri  gave  a  detailed  account  of  the 
cancellations  upon  the  Modena  stamps, 
illustrating  his  T^i\^tx\\\\.h/ac-simi/e  drawings. 

The  President  (Mr.  W.  Doming  Beckton) 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


105 


took  for  his  subject  the  articles  appearing 
in  certain  PhilateHc  papers  on  the  stamps 
of  the  United  States,  giving  a  very  instruc- 
tive, if  severe,  criticism  upon  them. 

Before  the  close  of  a  most  enjoyable  even- 
ing it  was  announced  that  Mr.  Duerst  had 
accepted  the  Editorship  of  the  Philatelic 
"JoKrnal  of  Great  Britain,  whereupon  he 
received  the  hearty  congratulations  and  best 
wishes  of  all. 

The  thirteenth  meeting  of  the  session  was 
held  at  the  Grand  Hotel  on  Friday,  April 
2nd,  the  President  and  sixteen  members 
being  present. 

Dr.  Bradley  (Farnworth),  Mr.  A.  Buxton 
(Heaton  Chapel),  and  Mr.  W.  Terry  (Brook- 
lands)  were  duly  elected  members  of  the 
Society. 


The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were 
read  and  confirmed,  and  the  general  business 
transacted. 

The  subject  for  the  evening  was  "The 
Stamps  of  Sicily."  Fluently  translating  Dr. 
Diena's  paper  from  Le  Tiinbre-Poste,  Mr. 
Petri  gave  the  most  interesting  and  the  most 
important  passages  which  had  reference  to 
the  mode  of  production  and  the  retouches, 
etc.,  of  the  various  values.  Many  of  the 
varieties  hitherto  unknown  to  many  of  those 
present  were  clearly  defined. 

Coming  after  the  disappointments  expe- 
rienced during  the  last  few  weeks,  Mr. 
Petri's  reading  was  greatly  appreciated 
by  all. 

Arthur  H.  Harrison,  Hon.  Sec. 

Grasmere,  Whitefield,  near  Manchester. 


THE    PHILATELIC    SOCIETY,    NEW    YORK, 

351,  Fourth  Avenue. 


Founded  January  23,  iSgi  ;   Incorporated  February  i,  1892. 


GOVERNING   COMMITTEE   FOR    1S97  : 
/'r«/f/(r«/— Chari.es  Gregory.  I  Treasurer — Menry  Ci.otz. 

Vice-President—].  M.  Anjjreini.  I         Secretary — Frederick  Augustus  Nast. 

Librarian — R.  \V.   Quigi.ey. 
Governing  Coininiltec : 
William  Thorne.  I  William  Herrick. 

John  Walter  Scott.  I  Gilbert  E.  Jones. 


The  Society's  room,  which  contains  a  fine  library  and  many  other  items  of  rhilatelic  interest,  is 
always  open  to  members.  Non-resident  Philatelists  are  cordially  invited  to  visit  the  Society's  room 
upon  application  to  any  resident  member.  The  regular  general  meetings  are  held  on  the  third 
Monday  of  each  month,  at  eight  p.m.  The  Society  will  be  pleased  to  receive  all  contribiuions  of 
Philatelic  literature,   etc.,   which  may  be  addressed  to  its  room. 


The  annual  meeting  of  the  Society  was 
held  December  21st,  in  its  room  at  The 
Collectors'  Club.  President  Herrick  in  the 
chair. 

Present :  Messrs.  Herrick,  Hartshorn, 
Falcon,  Luff,  Gregory,  Brevoort,  Terrett, 
Quigley,  Scott,  Holland,  Bruner,  Thorne, 
and  Nast. 

After  the  reading  and  approval  of  the 
minutes  of  the  preceding  meeting,  Mr.  David 
Benjamin,  of  Shanghai,  China,  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  Club  by  unanimous  vote. 

On   behalf  of  the    publishers,    Mr.    Luff 

presented  the  Society  with  a  copy  of  Mr. 

Herrick's  Illustrated  Catalogue  of  Russian 

Local  Stamps,  the   publication  of  which  in 

64a* 


serial  form  attracted  so  much  attention 
during  the  past  two  years.  Mr.  Bogert 
donated  priced  copies  of  his  late  auction 
catalogues.     Both  accepted  with  thanks. 

Messrs.  Andreini,  Thorne,  and  Scott  were 
appointed  an  Audit  Committee  to  examine 
the  Treasurer's  books. 

Treasurer's  Report  for  1896. 


Receipts. 

To  Balance,  Jan.  ist,  1896     . 

•     |i7'-3o 

„  Entrance  Fees  . 

SS.oo 

„  Yearly  Dues 

35000 

„  Auctions  (Rent  of  Rooms) 

200.00 

$776.30 

io6 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


Expenses. 

By  Rent 

$284.00 

„  New  Furniture  . 

100.00 

„  Printing  and  Postage 

26.33 

„  Moving  Exp.  and  Glass     . 

11.20 

„  Gas  Co 

9-49 

„  Janitor       .... 

16.50 

„  S.  S.  Soc.  (our  part)  . 

17.68 

Balance 


In  Market  &  Fulton  Bank    S3 10.49 
In  hand 6i 


465.20 

3'iio 

$776.30 


$311.10 

Henry  Clotz,  Treasjirer. 
December  21  si,   1896. 

Secretary's  Report  for  1896. 

One  of  the  most  eventful  years  in  the 
history  of  the  Society  has  just  closed.  We 
had  hardly  begun  with  the  year's  work  when 
we  were  notified  that  our  lease  would  not  be 
renewed,  and  to  the  resulting  uneasiness  was 
probably  due  the  fact  that  this  year  less 
original  work  in  the  matter  of  papers  has 
been  done  than  ever  before. 

Four  papers  were  read  during  the  year. 
January  20th,  1896,  "Reunion,"  by  ]\Ir. 
Herrick ;  April  20th,  1896,  "Reprints  of 
U.S.  Stamps,"  by  J.  N.  Luff;  "  Shifted  Dies, 
Mis-strikes,  and  Double  Impressions  of  U.S. 
Stamps,"  by  Mr.  Leavy  ;  June  15th,  1896, 
"  British  Stamps  with  N.  and  S.  American 
Cancellations,"  by  Mr.  Andreini,  each  a 
masterpiece  in  its  way.  On  the  other  hand, 
such  quantities  of  rare  and  scarce  stamps, 
with  albums  made  up  on  the  most  thorough 
Philatelic  basis,  have  been  exhibited  to  our 
members,  that  those  who  have  attended  the 
meetings  regularly  have  seen  practically 
everything  worth  seeing  in  the  matter  of 
stamps.  The  members  with  fine  collections 
deserve  the  thanks  of  the  Society  for  their 
never-failing  generosity  in  bringing  their 
Philatelic  treasures  to  the  common  room  for 
inspection. 

The  Exchange  Department,  organized  last 
February,  has  been  very  successful,  and, 
with  the  assistance  of  those  members  who 
have  not  participated  in  the  exchange,  the 
department  will  be  a  great  benefit  to  all. 


The  great  work  of  the  year  has  been  the 
establishment  of  The  Collectors'  Club 
through  the  exertions  of  the  Metropolitan 
Societies.  The  Club  speaks  for  itself,  and 
it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  Club-house  will 
be  the  centre  of  Philately  in  America. 

As  to  membership,  we  have  not  only  held 
our  own,  but  have  increased,  not  largely  ; 
but  still  the  record  of  the  past  years  has 
been  sustained. 

F.  A.  Nast,  Secretary. 

December  21st,    1896. 

The  Librarian's  Report  for  1 896  calls  for 
a  number  of  periodicals  needed  to  complete 
volumes  on  hand.  Any  Philatelic  literature 
not  now  in  the  Library  will  be  a  welcome 
addition. 

The  Staten  Island  Philatelic  Society  asked 
for  the  use  of  the  Society's  room,  January 
2 1  St,  1897.     Granted. 

'^The  Committee  on  the  annual  dinner 
recommended  a  late  date  in  January  at  the 
Club-house. 

The  Club's  House  Committee  asked  the 
loan  of  some  of  the  unused  frames  con- 
taining Philatelic  exhibits.     Granted. 

The  election  of  officers  for  the  ensuing 
year  was  ordered.  Mr.  Herrick  declined 
re-election,  as  he  could  not  reasonably  hope 
to  be  in  town  regularly.  His  decision  was 
received  by  the  members  with  great  regret, 
and  a  rising  vote  of  thanks  testified  to  the 
appreciation  of  the  Society  for  his  labours  in 
its  behalf. 

Mr.  Chas.  Gregory  was  nominated,  and  by 
unanimous  vote  the  Secretary  was  directed 
to  cast  a  ballot  for  him.  The  retiring  Presi- 
dent made  an  earnest  address  to  the  Society, 
calling  it  to  renewed  efforts  in  Philately,  and 
welcomed  the  new  President  to  the  chair, 
who  took  the  same  after  an  expression  of 
thanks  to  the  Society. 

By  unanimous  vote  the  following  officers 
were  elected : — 


Vice-President  . 
Treasurer 
Secretary 
Librarian 

Governing  Board 


Fredk.  a. 


Mr.  Andreini. 
Mr.  Cloiz. 
Mr.  Nast. 
Mr.  Ouigley. 
Mr.  Thorne. 
Mr.  Scott. 
Mr.  Herrick. 
Mr.  Jones. 

N.^ST,  Secretary. 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'   MEETINGS. 


107 


THE    COLLECTORS'    CLUB, 

351,  P"ouRTH  Avenue,  New  York. 


BOARD  OF  GOVERNORS  : 

President — William  Herrick.  Secr.tary — ^J.  M.  Andreini,  29,  W.  75th  Street. 

Vice-Pnsident — Charles  Gregory.  Treasurer— ]on^  W.  Scott,  40,  John  Street. 

Henry  L.  Calman.  John  N.  Luff.  Frederick  A.  Nast. 

Hiram  E.  Beats. 


John  N.  Luff. 
F.  E.  P.  Lynde. 


H.  L.  Calman 
H.  E.  Deats.      I 
J.  B.  Brevoort.       I 
Henry  Clotz, 
Jos.  J.  Casey. 


W.  S.  Scott. 

C.  L.   MOREAU. 


COMMITTEES: 
Executive — FL   E.  Deats,   Chairman. 

I  J.  N.  T.  Levick 

House— F.   E.    P.   Lynde,  Chairman. 
John  N.  Luff.      |      Albert  Perrin. 

Amusements — ^John  N.  Luff,  Chairman. 
J.  Oakley  Hobby.      |      P.  F.  Bruner. 

Auditing— F.  A.   Nast,  Chairman. 

I  Alvah  Davison. 

Literary — H.   E.   Deats,   Chairman. 

I  Jos.  S.  Rich, 

Membership—  Chas.  Gregory,  Chairman. 
R.  R.  BoGERT.      I      H.  Collin.      |      H.  Clotz.      |      FL  N.  Terrett. 

Furnishing — J.  W.  Scott,  Chairman. 
R.  R.  Bogert.  I  H.  L.  Calman. 

DIRECTORY : 
First  Floor— Office  and  Assembly  Room. 
Second  Floor — Library. 

Room  of  the  Philatelic  Society, /r^j^i'. 

Room  of  National  Philatelic  Society,  rear. 
Third  Floor— Guest  Chambers. 
Basement — Billiard  Room. 

Admittance  by  Membership  Card. 


Notices  of  coming  events  and  application  for  membership  will  be  found  posted  on  the  bulletin 
board. 

For  special  information  inquire  of  the  House  Conmiittee. 


Sixth  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Governors, 
held  at  the  Club-house,  351,  Fourth  Avenue, 
January  nth,  1897.  President  Herrick  in 
the  chair  ;  called  to  order  at  7.55  p.m. 
Present :  Messrs.  Scott,  Luff,  Lynde,  and 
the  Secretary. 

Minutes  of  the  last  meeting  read  and 
approved. 

The  Secretary  read  a  letter  from  the  Phil- 
atelic Club  and  Exchange,  Limited,  London, 
sending  specimen  card  and  membership 
roll.  The  Secretary  was  directed  to  ac- 
knowledge receipt  of  same  with  thanks, 
and  to  mail  to  the  Philatelic  Club  and 
Exchange,  Limited,  our  Constitution  and 
list  of  members. 


The  Secretary  was  instructed  to  thank 
the  London  Philatelic  Society  for  their 
kind  donation  of  books  for  the  Club 
Library. 

The  Secretary  read  letters  from  Mr.  E. 
Stanley  Gibbons  and  from  the  Secretary  of 
the  Archa2ologic  and  Numismatic  Society, 
thanking  the  Club  for  courtesies  extended. 

The  Secretary  was  directed  to  acknow- 
ledge with  thanks  a  catalogue  received  from 
Mr.  H.  L'Estrangc  Ewen,  London,  and  a 
file  of  the  Stamp  Collector's  Fortnightly., 
from  Harry  Hilckes  &  Company,  Limited, 
London. 

The  thanks  of  the  Club  were  likewise 
extended  to  Mr.  Chas.  De  Witt  Drew  and 


io8 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'   MEETINGS. 


Dr.  Paul  Allen  for  gifts  of  unframed  engrav- 
ings, etc. 

The  Treasurer  reports  that  the  Club's 
incorporation  was  finally  accomplished  on 
December  14th,  1896. 

The  Treasurer  also  reported  that  Consti- 
tution and  By-Laws,  in  pamphlet  form,  had 
been  distributed  to  the  members. 

Upon  motion  the  thanks  of  the  Club  were 
extended  to  Mr.  Da  Costa  Gomez  for  gift  of 
English  essays  in  frames,  presented  to  the 
Club  through  Mr.  J.  W.  Scott. 

Mr.  Luff  was  delegated  to  extend  the 
courtesies  of  the  Club  to  the  members  of 
the  Staten  Island  Philatelic  Society  at 
their  meeting  in  the  Club-house  on  the 
2 1st  inst. 

The  following  application  for  membership 
was  reported  :  John  R.  Myers,  The  Dun- 
more,  W.  42nd  Street — proposed  by  Robert 
L.  Coursen,  seconded  by  A.  Perrin — and  his 
name  was  ordered  to  be  posted  according  to 
the  Constitution. 

Upon  ballot  the  following  candidates  were 
unanimo'usly  elected  : — 

H.  B.  Wesselman,  150,  Broadway. 

N.  AL  Kaufmann,  Marquette,  Mich. 

Chas.  Steigerwalt,  Lancaster,  Pa. 

C.  A.  Needham,  Hamilton,  Ontario,  Can., 
and  they  were  accordingly  declared  elected 
as  subscribing  members. 

Adjourned  at  9.40  p.m. 

J.   M.  AXDREINI,  Secretary. 

Subscribing  members  previously  elected : — 

C.  P.  Krauth,  Pittsburg,  Pa. 

Joseph  Holmes. 

Robt.  S.  Lehman. 

Wm.  Alex.  Smith,  Jun. 

J.  B.  Chittenden. 

Angel  AL  Trujillo. 

Robt.  L.  Coursen. 

Fred.  V.  Green. 

Dr.  Jas.  H.  Stebbins,  Jun. 


Seventh  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Gover- 
nors, held  at  the  Club-house,  351,  Fourth 
Avenue,  February  8th,  1897.  President 
Herrick  in  the  chair.  Present  :  Messrs. 
Gregory,  Dcats,  Ljnde,  Luif,  Nast,  Scott, 
and  the  Secretary. 

Called  to  order  at  8  p.m. 


Minutes  of  previous  meeting  read  and 
approved. 

The  Secretary  read  a  letter  from  Mr. 
Edward  F.  Weed,  received  with  two  oil 
paintings  and  four  engravings  loaned  to  the 
Club.  The  Secretary  was  directed  to 
acknowledge  receipt  of  Mr.  Weed's  letter, 
and  to  extend  to  him  the  thanks  of  the  Club 
for  the  loan.  The  House  Committee  re- 
ported the  pictures  and  engravings  hung  in 
the  Assembly  Room. 

The  Chairman  of  the  Literary  Committee 
acknowledged  the  receipt  of  Philatelic  litera- 
ture from  the  Scott  Stamp  and  Coin  Com- 
pany, Limited  ;  the  J.  W.  Scott  Company, 
Limited  ;  Mr.  Henry  Gremmel ;  and  the  C. 
H.  Mekeel  Stamp  and  Publishing  Company  ; 
and  the  Governors  thanked  the  above- 
mentioned  firms  for  their  gifts. 

,The  Chairman  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee resigned,  owing  to  his  inability  to  be 
present  regularly  at  the  meetings,  and  the 
Governors  accepted  his  resignation  with 
regret. 

Upon  motion,  Mr.  Henry  L.  Caiman  was 
unanimously  elected  Chairman  of  the  Execu- 
tive Committee. 

The  Chairman  of  the  Literary  Committee, 
Mr.  H.  E.  Deats,  presented  to  the  Club 
several  bound  books  for  the  Library,  and 
he  received  therefor  the  thanks  of  the 
Governors.         

Eighth  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Governors, 
held  at  the  Club-house,  351,  Fourth  Avenue, 
March  8th,  1897.  \'ice-President  Gregory  in 
the  chair.  Present :  Messrs.  Caiman,  Luff, 
Lynde,  Scott,  and  the  Secretary. 

Called  to  order  at  8.10  p.m. 

Minutes  of  previous  meeting  were  then 
read  and  approved. 

The  Secretary  read  letters  from  Messrs. 
M.  P.  Castle,  Percy  C.  Bishop,  and  Stanley 
Gibbons,  Limited,  London,  relative  to  publi- 
cation of  minutes  ;  a  letter  from  Mr.  Harbeck 
with  detailed  memorandum  of  books  loaned ; 
and  another  from  the  Chairman  of  the 
Literary  Committee  regarding  the  binding 
of  certain  volumes  received  as  gifts. 

J.  M.  Andreim,  Secretary. 

[The  seventh  and  eighth  reports  are 
abridged,  owing  to  demands  on  our  space. 
—Ed.] 


PHILATELIC   S0C1ETIE6'    MEETINGS. 


109 


SUBURBAN  STAMP  EXCHANGE. 


Founded  in  1892.  Number  of  members  to 
date,  283.  Two  A  packets  (composed  exclu- 
sively of  sheets,  valued  at  not  less  than  ^5 
gross  each),  and  two  B  packets  (sheets  of  less 
than  ^5),  made  up  about  the  21st  of  each 
month.  Average  value  of  packets,  ^1500- 
^1800.  The  following  characteristics  of  the 
Club  may  be  noted  : — 

(i)  Stamps  are  priced  at  members'  discre- 
tion. 

(2)  Cash   settlements    are    monthly,    and 

sheets  are  returned  as  promptly  as 
possible. 

(3)  Every  precaution  is  taken  to  exclude 

undesirable  members. 

(4)  Priority  on  the  lists  is  taken  in  turn, 

and  members  can  see  or  contribute 
to  as  many  packets  as  they  like. 

The  usual  number  of  packets  were  made 
up  and  despatched  on  the  February  circuits, 
their  aggregate  value  amounting  to  .^^1591 
14s.  id.  Considering  the  scarcity  and  con- 
dition of  many  of  the  stamps  offered, 
quotations  were  very  moderate.  November 
packets  have  just  returned  from  the  supply 
rounds,  sales  being  as  follows  : — 

£ 

Nov.  A  I      .        .        .        .79 

„    A2      .        .        .        .71 

„     B  I  and  B  2         .        .60 

Supply  A  I  and  A  2     .         -37 


d. 
II 

^\ 

4 

I 


^248 


8i 


December  packets  have  now  been  made 
up  for  supply  rounds,  and  accounts  will  be 
rendered  in  due  course.  Members  are  re- 
minded that  sheets  should  not  be  sent  for 
inclusion  later  than  the  20th  of  each 
month.  Several  new  contributing  and 
buying  members  have  been  admitted  since 
January,  including  T.  J.  Smithson,  Hull ; 
C.  Daly,  Streatham ;  Captain  Thorburn, 
Ayr ;  Professor  Lipman,  Jersey ;  P.  H. 
Young,  Cambridge ;  Mrs.  Capell,  Dun- 
mow  ;  P.  de  Smith,  Brussels ;  H.  A.  D. 
Capell ;  J.  Bilson,  Birmingham  ;  T.  O. 
Callender,  Erith,  etc.  etc.  Medium  and 
advanced  collectors  giving  good  references 
are  always  welcomed,  and  rules  and  full 
information  will  be  forwarded  on  application 
to  the  Secretary,  H.  A.  Slade,  Tudor  House, 
St.  Albans. 


The  number  of  members  enrolled  on  April 
1st,  1897,  was  288.  Two  A  packets  (com- 
posed exclusively  of  sheets  valued  at  not 
less  than  ^5  gross  each)  and  two  B  packets 
(sheets  under  ^5  gross)  are  made  up  and 
circulated  on  the  20th  of  each  month. 
Aggregate  value  of  the  four  packets  /^i6oo- 
£1850. 

The  ordinary  rules  of  Exchange  Clubs 
apply,  but  the  following  may  be  especially 
noted  : — 

(i)    Stamps  are  priced  at  members'  dis- 
cretion. 

(2)  Cash  settlements  are  monthly. 

(3)  Every  member  sees   packets   first   in 

turn. 

(4)  Members  can  see  or  contribute  to  as 

many  packets  as  they  like  by  giving 
notice. 

(5)  Satisfactory  references  are  indispens- 

able. 

Notice  for  April. 
Two  A  and  two  B  packets  were  despatched 
on  March  22nd,  the  quality  of  the  sheets 
being  quite  up  to  the  average.  Old  Euro- 
peans and  Africans  were  especially  well 
represented.  November  accounts  have  been 
submitted  and  balanced,  and  December 
packets  are  expected  back  shortly  from 
supplementary  rounds.  Sales  were  as 
follows : — 


Nov.  A  I  packet   . 

„     A  2      ,, 

„     B  I       „ 

„     B  2       „ 
Supply  rounds  of 
A  2  packets    . 


A 


123 


and 


114  10  II 
44  4  o 
29     I     I 


.  49  19  4 
January  packets  have  already  started  on 
their  supply  rounds  ;  members  wishing  to 
be  included  on  lists  should  notify  me.  Mr. 
Oldfield  has  kindly  promised  to  send  a  copy 
of  the  revised  code  of  rules  he  is  drawing 
up  in  view  of  the  recent  legal  decision  given 
re  the  liabilities  of  Exchange  Clubs.  The 
suburban  rules  will  probably  be  recon- 
structed to  meet  these  requirements  and  to 
protect  members  ;  due  notice  will,  however, 
be  given.  Responsible  collectors  will  be 
furnished  with  full  information  as  to  member- 
ship, etc.,  on  application. 

H.  A.  Slade,  Hon.  Sec. 

TuDOK  House,  St.  Alu.^ns. 


no 


PHILATELIC   SOCIETIES'   MEETINGS. 


PLYMOUTH    PHILATELIC    SOCIETY. 


President — Captain  G.  H.  W.  Stockdale,  R.E. 
Treasurer  and  Hon.  Secretary — W.  J.  W.  Miller. 


The  seventh  ordinary  meeting  of  the  Society 
was  held  at  9a,  Princess  Square,  on  Wednes- 
day, December  30th,  1896,  at  7.30  p.m.  The 
Vice-President  (Mr.  R.  T.  Stevens)  in  the 
chair,  supported  by  ten  members  and  two 
visitors.  The  Hon.  Secretary  reported 
receipt  from  Messrs.  Stanley  Gibbons,  Ltd., 
of  Part  I.  of  their  new  Catalogue,  and  from 
Mr.  Ewen  of  a  presentation  copy  of  his  new 
album  for  English  specialists,  and  was 
instructed  to  acknowledge  same  with  best 
thanks  of  the  Society. 

Mr.  E.  R.  Hudson,  Plymouth,  and  Lieut. 
C.  W.  Keighley-Peach,  R.N.,  H.M.S.  Cam- 
bridge, were  elected  ordinary  members  of 
the  Society. 

Mr.  Mayne  introduced  the  subject  for 
study,  "Some  of  the  Stamps  of  Great 
Britain."  His  remarks  were  confined  to  the 
Mulready  envelope  and  its  caricatures,  the 
id.  V.R.,  and  the  Line-Engraved  Series,  of 
which  he  showed  some  good  specimens. 
An  interesting  discussion  followed.  The 
Vice-President  exhibited  a  copy  of  the  id. 
imperforate,  printed  in  blue,  and  stated  that 
the  authenticity  of  this  stamp  had  been 
doubted  by  experts  ;  but  in  a  valuable  collec- 
tion which  had  recently  changed  hands  there 
was,  he  believed,  a  similar  variety  found.  A 
vote  of  thanks,  on  the  proposition  of  the 
Vice-President,  seconded  by  Dr.  Bulteel, 
was  heartily  accorded  Mr.  Mayne. 

The  Hon.  Secretary  was  instructed  to 
convey  the  best  thanks  of  the  Society  to  the 
following  publishers  for  donations  to  the 
Society's  Library  during  the  year  :— Messrs. 
Theodore  Buhl  &  Co.  ;  Mr.  Wm.  Brown, 
Salisbury ;  and  the  Publishers,  Piiilatelic 
Chronicle  and  Advertiser. 


The  eighth  ordinary  meeting  of  the  Society 
was  held  at  9a,  Princess  Square,  on  Wed- 
nesday, January  13th,  1897,  at  7.30  p.m. 
The  Vice-President  (Mr.  R.  T.  Stevens)  in 
the  chair,  supported  by  nine  members,  one 
hon.  member,  and  four  visitors. 

The  Hon.  Secretary  reported  receipt  of 
letters  acknowledging  the  votes  of  thanks 
passed  at  last  meeting,  and  offering  similar 
benefit  during  the  current  year,  and  he  was 


instructed  to  acknowledge  same  with  best 
thanks  of  Society. 

Dr.  C.  E.  Rendle,  Plymouth,  was  elected 
an  ordinary  member  of  the  Society. 

Mr.  Mayne  continued  his  remarks  from 
last  meeting  on  the  stamps  of  Great  Britain, 
dealing  with  the  3d.  and  4d.  of  the  surface- 
printed  series,  showing  specimens  of  the 
different  printings,  and  pointing  out  the 
different  wmks.,  plate  numbers,  and  shades 
of  colour.  An  interesting  discussion  fol- 
lowed, the  Vice-President  showing  some 
very  unusual  shades  of  colour  of  both  the 
3d.  and  4d.  values,  and  giving  a  very 
iliteresting  description  of  the  processes 
employed  for  the  engraving  and  printing 
of  both  the  line  -  engraved  series  and  the 
surface-printed  stamps. 


The  ninth  ordinary  meeting  of  the  Society 
was  held  at  9a,  Princess  Square,  on  Wed- 
nesday, January  27th,  1897,  at  7.30  p.m. 
The  President  (Captain  G.  H.  W.  Stockdale, 
R.E.)  in  the  chair,  supported  by  seven 
members. 

Mr.  A.  W.  Shield,  Plymouth,  was  duly 
elected  an  ordinary  member  of  the  Society. 

The  subject  for  study,  "The  Stamps  of 
Great  Britain,"  was  introduced  by  Mr. 
Mayne,  being  a  continuation  of  his  remarks 
from  last  meeting.  He  dealt  with  the  6d. 
and  IS.  values,  and  illustrated  his  remarks 
by  the  exhibition  of  specimens  from  his 
collection,  pointing  out  the  different  wmks., 
plate  numbers,  and  shades  of  colour.  An 
interesting  discussion  followed,  and  the 
President  exhibited  his  collection  of  the 
stamps  under  notice  for  the  information  of 
members. 

On  the  proposition  of  the  President, 
seconded  by  Mr.  W.  E.  Harvey,  a  vote  of 
thanks  was  accorded  Mr.  Mayne  for  his 
remarks. 

The  tenth  ordinary  meeting  of  the  Society 
was  held  at  No.  9a,  Princess  Square,  on 
Wednesday,  February  loth,  1897.  Mr.  H. 
W.  Mayne  in  the  chair,  supported  by  seven 
members  and  two  visitors. 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


1 1 1 


The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read 
and  confirmed,  and  the  receipt  of  the  usual 
publications  was  reported. 

Mr.  A.  M.  Watkins,  Stoke,  was  balloted 
for,  and  elected  an  ordinary  member  of  the 
Society. 

The  Vice-President  (Mr.  R.  Tyeth  Stevens) 
having  been  unexpectedly  called  to  London, 
the  subject  of  study,  "The  Stamps  of 
Barbados,"  which  was  to  have  been  intro- 
duced by  him,  was  unavoidably  postponed. 

The  Chairman  (Mr.  Mayne)  gave  the 
members  an  interesting  account  of  how 
he  commenced  stamp  collecting,  and  at  the 
close  of  his  remarks  was  accorded  a  hearty 
vote  of  thanks. 

The  eleventh  ordinary  meeting  of  the 
Society  was  held  at  No.  9a,  Princess  Square, 
on  Wednesday,  February  24th,  1897,  at 
7.30  p.m. 

The  Vice-President  (Mr.  R.  T.  Stevens) 
in  the  chair,  supported  by  nine  members 
and  two  visitors. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were 
read  and  confirmed,  and  the  report  of 
publications  received  were  announced. 

A  sub-committee  of  eight  members  was 


Display    of    Stamps    to    be    held    at    the 
Society's  Room  on  the  27th  inst. 

The  Vice-President  (Mr.  R.  T.  Stevens) 
introduced  the  subject  of  study,  "  The 
Stamps  of  Barbados."  He  dealt  with  the 
stamps  comprised  in  Issues  I.  to  VIII.  of 
Messrs.  Bacon  and  Napier's  Handbook,  and 
illustrated  his  remarks  by  the  exhibition  of 
his  own  collection,  arranged  in  accordance 
with  the  handbook,  and  which  showed  very 
distinctly  the  different  wmks.,  perforations, 
and  shades  of  colour.  He  explained  the 
differences  in  the  pin  perforation,  clean  cut 
perforation,  rough  or  blind  perforation,  and 
the  succeeding  clean  perforation,  and  speci- 
mens of  each  were  passed  round  for  inspec- 
tion by  the  members.  In  the  Star  wmkd. 
series,  the  differences  in  the  sizes  of  the  stars 
and  their  positions  on  the  sheet  were  ex- 
plained. 

A  most  interesting  discussion  followed,  and 
a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  the 
Vice-President  for  his  very  exhaustive  and 
interesting  remarks. 

At  the  close  of  the  meeting,  Mr.  Cocks 
passed  round  for  inspection  the  new  issue  of 
Zanzibar  stamps,  on  original  envelope. 

W.  J.  W.  Miller,  Hott.  Sec. 

5,  ATHHNyEUM  Terrace,  Plymouth. 


elected    to     make    arrangements    for    the 

IVe  have  to  express  our  regret  to  the  Hon.  Secretaries  of  the  foregoing  Philatelic  Societies  that  the 
publication  of  some  of  the  preceding  minutes  should  have  unavoidably  been  so  lotig  delayed. — Ed. 


Comsj^nnti^na. 


Communications. — All  comvmnications  on  Philatelic  matters  and  Publications  for  Review  should 
be  addressed  to  the  Editor  of  The  London  Philatelist,  Kingston  Lodge,  Richmond  Place, 
Brighton.  ___ 


GREAT  BRITAIN,  2d.,  BLUE;  THICK 
WHITE  LINES;   SC;  PERF.  16. 

Dear  Sir, — You  will  see  that  the  en- 
closed is  a  very  early  use  of  the  2d.,  blue, 
perf.  16,  SC — over  three  weeks  before  the 
hitherto-supposed  earliest  date  of  use  of 
this  stamp.  May,  1854,  was,  until  recently, 
beheved  to  be  the  first  month  of  issue ;  but 
Ewen,  in  his  latest  catalogue,  states  that  the 
earliest  known  date  of  use  of  this  stamp  is 
April  30th,  1854 — twenty-two  days  later  than 
the  enclosed. 

Faithfully  yours, 

Allan  H.  Stamford. 

Mr.  H.  L.  Ewen,  to  whom  we  submitted 
the  foregoing,  kindly  writes : — 


"  This  stamp,  so  far  as  I  know,  antedates 
by  twenty-two  days  the  previous  earliest 
known  specimen  of  2d.,  blue,  perforated. 
The  perforating  machines  were  brought  into 
use  in  January,  1854,  and  a  copy  of  the  irt'., 
red,  perf.  16,  is  known  used  on  February 
2oih,  1854;  so  it  is  quite  possible  the  per- 
forated 2d.,  blue,  stamps  were  also  issued 
previous  to  April,  1854.  I  have  never  had 
an  opportunity  of  examining  many  dated 
copies. 

"  The  letter  to  which  the  stamp  is  affixed 
was  evidently  sent  from  London  to  Bradford, 
and  being  received  at  this  latter  place  on 
April  8th,  would  probably  have  been  des- 
patched on  April  jlh."    [Ed.] 


112 


Cl^^  Utarhet. 


Messrs.  Puttick  &  Simpson. 
Sale  on  April  5th  and  6th. 

Bavaria,    1850,    gkr.,   green,   an      (, 

entire  sheet  of  45  stamps  . 
Ditto,  ditto,  12  kr.,  red,  do.  do.  . 
Ditto,  ditto,  18  kr.,  yellow,  do.  do. 
Switzerland,  1852,  15  cents,  red, 

unused,  with  gum 
Ceylon,   2/-,    blue,   imperf.,  with 

margins  on  all  sides 
Barbados,  CA,  5/-,  ochre,  block 

of  4,  unused,  with  gum 
Nevis,    CA,  6d.,  green,   unused, 

with  gum  .... 
St.   Christopher,   CA,  6d.,   grey, 

block  of  4,  unused,  with  gum 
New  Caledonia,  first  issue,  10  c, 

grey-black,  entire  sheet  of  50 

originals        .... 


6  o 
10  10 
12     o 


d. 
O 
O 
O 


14  10    o 


15 


10 


Messrs.  Cheveley  &  Co. 
Sale  on  March  22nd. 

French  Colonies,  25  c,  black  on 

red,  impf.,  block  of  4,  unused  4  15 
Great  Britain,  4d.,  wmk.  Medium 

Garter,  unused  pair  on  white 

paper 29  10 

Spain,  1851,  2  neales,  red,  unused  33  10 
185.2         ,',  „        „  23  10 

„       1853         »  »        .,  no 

Labuan,     2  c.     on     16  c,     blue 

(Gibbons'  No.  25),  unused  5  15 
Natal,  no  wmk.,  6d.,  grey,  unused 

block  of  4  .  .  •  .  2  16 
New   South   Wales,    sd.,   green, 

imperf.  .         •        .         .40 

Queensland,    1879,    id.,  yellow, 

error,  unused  .  .  -55 
British    Columbia,    unused,    ^i, 

perf.  12^        .        .         .         •       3    o 


I    s.   d. 
Buenos  Ayres,  3  pesos,  green      .      476 

Colombia,  1862,  20  c.,  red    .         .600 
„  „  I  peso,  lilac,  unused      500 

Dominica,   CA,   i/-,  unused  pair       6   15     o 

Nevis,    lithograph,    4d.,    orange, 

unused  (No.  5)      .         .         .750 

Ditto,   ditto,   6d.,   olive,    unused 

(No.  2)  .         .         .        .     10     5     o 

New  Brunswick,  6d.,  yellow,  un- 
used           19  10    o 

Nova  Scotia,  i/-,  cold  violet,  large 

margins  .         .         .         .     25     o    o 

Peru,  medio  peso,  rose         .        .     12  10    o 
„  „        „      yellow,  unused      3  14    o 

Tobago,  CA,  6d.,  ochre        .         .1150 

Trinidad,   "Lady    McLeod"  on 

entire  letter  .        .        .        .     12  10    o 

Turks  Islands,  2|d.  on  i/-,  prune 

(Gibbons'  Type  X),  unused  .      6150 

Messrs.  Ventom,  Bull,  &  Cooper. 

Sale  on  March  30th  and  31st: 

Great  Britain,  id.,  black,  a  recon- 
structed plate  .  .  .  2  17  6 
British  Columbia,  perf.  14,  10  c, 

blue  and  rose,  unused  .  .1100 
Ditto,    perf.    I2|,    $1,  blue  and 

green,  unused  .  .  .  3150 
British  Guiana,  1862,  provisional, 

4  c,  blue,  border  of  trefoils, 

showing  roulettes  all  round. 

No.  15  on  plate  .  .  .  6  10  o 
Dominica,  i/-,  violet  .  .  .400 
St.    Christopher,   CA,   4d.,   blue, 

unused  .         .         .         .600 

Ditto,  ditto,  6d.,  olive-brown  .  2  12  o 
Turks  Islands,  id.  on  4d.,  grey, 

unused  pair    .         .        .  4150 

Victoria,    1861-66,    6d.,    orange, 

beaded  oval  .        .         .        .4150 


THE 


I0nd0tt  fWIati|Iist: 


THE    MONTHLY    JOURNAL    OF 


THE    PHILATELIC   SOCIETY,    LONDON. 


Vol.   VI. 


MAY,    1897. 


No.    65, 


%  tfolassal  l^bkrtistimnt  of  ||j)ilatcl|). 


BUNDANT  evidence  is  already  forthcoming  that  the  sale  of 
H.R.H.  the  Prince  of  Wales'  Hospital  Fund  Stamps  will 
be  altogether  abnormal.  From  all  quarters,  in  town  or 
country,  retail  and  wholesale,  we  hear  of  great  eagerness 
to  purchase  specimens,  and  there  can  be  no  doubt  but 
that  hundreds  of  thousands  of  these  labels  will  be  absorbed 
by  members  of  the  general  public  to  whom  Philately  has 
been  hitherto  a  sealed  book.  We  are  fully  aware  that  no 
Postal  or  Philatelic  value  is  sought  to  be  attached  thereto 
either  by  the  promoters  of  the  benevolent  scheme  or  those 
amongst  us  who  are  only  too  happy  to  further  such  a  good 
work.  In  the  interests  of  the  hospitals  themselves  the  idea 
is  a  brilliant  one,  greatly  redounding  to  the  credit  of  the  originator,  and 
will,  we  are  convinced,  be  an  ultimate  material  factor  in  the  success  that 
must  attend  the  Royal  Family's  kindly  initiative  on  behalf  of  the  suffering  of 
this  country. 

The  appeal  on  the  foregoing  ground  alone  would  necessarily  evoke  the 
warm  sympathy  of  all  our  readers,  but  Philatelists  have  a  double  claim 
on  their  good  will.  Despite  the  knowledge  that  these  "stamps"  are  purely 
of  a  philanthropic  and  not  a  Philatelic  nature,  the  fact  remains  that  they 
are — to  the  outside  public — in  every  way  a  visible  and,  moreover,  a  very 
handsome  representation  of  the  conventional  postal  label.  Every  purchaser 
must  perforce  have  his  or  her  attention  called  to  the  facts  that  stamp 
collecting  is  an  acknowledged  and  recognised  pursuit,  that  its  votaries  are 
now  so  numerous  as  to  influence  the  issue  of  special  stamps,  and  that  there 
can  be  inherent  beauty,  interest,  and  variety  attaching  to  postage  stamps. 
Inevitably  many  of  those  who  have  these  stamps  will  be  led  insensibly 
to   consider   the   advisability   of    adding    others,   and    we    anticipate    that, 


114  THE  STAMPS   OF  BOLIVIA. 

notably  in  the  stamps  of  this  country,  there  will  be  a  sure  and  steady 
influx  of  the  "  New  Collector."  The  issue  of  the  Centennial  Stamps  in  the 
States  created  a  new  army  of  collectors,  a  precedent  that  there  is  a  just 
reason  to  anticipate  will  be  followed  in  this  country.  Philatelists,  therefore, 
actuated  alike  by  the  purest  of  virtues,  patriotism  and  charity,  and  the 
meanest  of  failings — selfishness — have  every  incentive  in  helping  on  the 
Hospital  Fund  Stamps,  and  we  trust  that  our  united  efforts  may  be  of 
great  value  in  the  good  cause  of  our  less  fortunate  brethren  and  also  of 
ourselves. 


^\i  Stamps  0f  §0libta. 

A  Paper  read  before  the  London  Philatelic  Society  on  the  14TH  May,  1897. 

By  H.  R.  OLDFIELD. 


%  *  IKE  most  of  the  other   South  and   Central  American   States, 
i        Bolivia  is  at  the  present  time  an  unfashionable  country  so  far 


as  the  collection  of  its  stamps  is  concerned ;  and  a  very  good 
thing  too  for  those  who  are  interested  in  them,  otherwise 
there  would  be  some  considerable  difficulty  in  getting 
'together  a  thoroughly  representative  collection. 

While  itself  not  wholly  free  from  blame,  Bolivia  suffers  for  the  sins  of 
others.  It  has  come  under  the  notice  of  the  S.S.S.S.,  though  not  to  the  same 
extent  as  other  kingdoms  or  republics  of  the  American  continent.  The 
shadow  of  the  curse  of  Seebeckism  and  of  Surcharges  which  rests  upon 
some  of  its  neighbours  has  blighted  its  prospects,  and  lessened  the  attraction 
a  study  of  its  stamps  would  otherwise  present. 

The  manufacture  of  stamps  solely  for  commercial  and  speculative 
purposes,  without  regard  to  the  reasonable  requirements  of  postal  service, 
very  naturally  frightened  away  collectors  from  the  country  which  descended 
to  such  methods  of  raising  money,  or  allowed  its  public  servants  to  barter 
away  their  respectability  and  good  faith  for  a  paltry  profit.  However,  this 
evil  is  rapidly  working  its  own  cure.  Collectors  have  begun  to  find  out  that 
if  they  cease  to  buy  the  stamps  such  issues  will  no  longer  be  made,  and  that 
consequently  there  is  no  reason  why  the  country  should  be  tabooed  as  a 
whole.  It  will  not  be  long  before  a  natural  revulsion  of  feeling,  consequent 
upon  the  realization  of  this  fact,  will  bring  these  countries  back  into  popular 
favour,  while  the  earlier  issues  and  such  as  have  not  been  tampered  with  will 
become  more  highly  prized  than  in  the  past. 

Undoubtedly  a  much  greater  degree  of  interest  has  been  shown  during  the 
last  six  months  in  the  stamps  of  Buenos  Ayres,  Uruguay,  and  possibly  in 
those  of  the  Colombian  States  as  well.  This  interest  is  likely  to  increase 
and  to  extend  its  range  to  other  South  and  Central  American  States. 

Among  others  I  think  Bolivia  deserves,  and  will  receive,  its  fair  share  of 
attention.     Only  a  few  speculative  or  unnecessary  stamps  have  been  issued. 


THE  STAMPS  OF  BOLIVIA.  115 

From  1866  to  the  present  time  (1897)  the  regular  issues  have  only  been  nine 
in  number,  one  of  which  had  a  duration  of  seven  years,  and  another  of  nine 
years.  The  stamps  are  engraved  in  taille  donee,  surcharging  has  been  made 
use  of  only  to  a  small  and,  I  think,  legitimate  extent,  and  there  are  con- 
sequently no  such  difficulties  as  those  which  lead  collectors  generally  to  fight 
a  little  shy  of  Mexico,  Peru,  and  Venezuela. 

At  the  same  time  the  stamps  of  Bolivia  present  their  own  peculiar 
difficulties,  some  of  which  were  indicated  in  the  "Notes  on  the  5  Centavo 
Stamps,"  which  I  wrote  in  1896.  These,  however,  are  not  nearly  so  serious  as 
they  seem  to  be,  while  the  forgeries — with  one  or  two  exceptions — are  far 
from  dangerous. 

Bolivia  was  in  no  hurry  to  confer  upon  its  inhabitants  the  advantages 
involved  in  the  issue  of  postage  stamps,  for  the  first  were  not  available  until 
July,  1866 — more  than  25  years  after  Great  Britain  had  led  the  way — 10  years 
later  than  Uruguay,  and  13  years  after  Chili  had  introduced  the  system 
among  the  Native  States  of  the  South  American  continent. 

Very  little  has  been  written  about  the  Bolivian  stamps,  and  much  of  the 
information  which  has  been  published  is  erroneous.  With  the  exception  of 
some  few  notes  and  articles  in  the  Stamp  Collectors'  Magazine  for  the  years 
1869,  1870,  1871,  and  1872,  and  of  a  note  in  the  Metropolitan  Philatelist  for 
1892,  no  information  has  been  vouchsafed  to  collectors,  save  the  ordinary 
intimation  from  time  to  time  as  to  fresh  postal  issues. 

It  seems  a  pity  that  the  writers  of  the  various  letters  and  articles  upon  the 
5  centavos  stamp  of  the  first  issue,  which  appeared  in  the  Stamp  Collectors' 
Magazine  during  1869  and  1870,  did  not  take  the  trouble  to  obtain  complete 
sheets  of  the  various  printings,  for  in  1897  (some  30  years  later)  it  is  naturally 
much  more  difficult  both  to  obtain  and  to  arrange  these  printings  in  their 
proper  order. 

The  eagle  issue,  which  appeared  in  1866,  consisted  of  four  values:  5,  10. 
50,  and  100  centavos.  Other  values,  viz.,  15  and  20  centavos  and  I  peso, 
were  chronicled  in  1869,  but  were  all  forgeries.  The  design  in  its  main 
features  was  the  same  for  each  value  :  an  eagle  with  outstretched  wings 
is  resting  upon  a  hemisphere  of  curved  lines  (generally  called  the  globe). 
This  eagle  is  enclosed  in  an  oval  band  outlined  in  the  colour  of  the  stamp, 
and  containing  on  a  white  ground  the  following  words:  at  the  top  "BOLIVIA," 
at  the  bottom  "centavos,"  on  the  left  side  "CORREOS,"  and  on  the  right  side 
"CONTRATOS."  The  background,  both  inside  and  outside  the  oval  band, 
is  composed  of  vertical  and  horizontal  lines  crossing  each  other,  the  horizontal 
ones  slanting  somewhat  in  a  downward  direction  towards  the  left.  The  outer 
background  is  surrounded  by  a  plain  rectangular  frame,  also  outlined  in 
the  colour  of  the  stamp.  In  the  case  of  the  5  centavos  value  there  are 
white  ovals  separating  the  four  words  before  mentioned,  each  containing  a 
large  figure  "  5,"  coloured  green.  These  ovals  are  placed  with  the  narrow 
ends  one  towards  but  not  touching  the  corner,  and  the  other  infringing  upon 
the  oval  band  surrounding  the  eagle. 

In  the  case  of  the  10  and  100  centavos  these  ovals  are  placed  with  the 
broad  sides  towards  the  corner  and  towards  the  oval  band,  but  not  touching 
either. 


ii6  THE  STAMPS   OF  BOLIVIA. 

In  the  case  of  the  50  centavos  there  is  no  white  oval  at  all ;  the  figures 
of  value  are  engraved  upon  the  background  in  the  corner  of  the  stamp. 

The  stamps  are  engraved,  but  upon  what  metal  I  have  been  unable  to 
ascertain,  although,  in  an  article  which  appeared  in  the  Stamp  Collectors' 
Magazine  for  1869,  a  statement  is  made  that  the  design  was  engraved  by 
a  Senor  Estruch,  who  was  in  business  with  his  brother  at  La  Paz,  and  that  he 
prepared  tzvo  steel  plates  of  the  5  centavos  value.  Both  these  statements,  I 
believe,  are  incorrect.  Certainly  the  stamps  were  not  printed  from  two 
plates,  as  will  appear  hereafter,  and  I  find  it  difficult  to  believe  that  steel  was 
the  metal  used,  for  even  a  copper  engraving  ought  to  have  lasted  much  longer 
than  this  plate  evidently  did.  From  the  rapid  signs  of  wear  and  the  frequent 
retouches,  one  might  almost  imagine  them  to  have  been  engraved  upon  some 
soft  metal,  such  as  lead,  although  probably  this  was  not  the  case. 

The  stamps  were  printed  in  sheets  of  varying  sizes :  72  stamps  in  6  rows 
of  12  each  of  the  5  centavos;  78  in  6  rows  of  13  each  for  the  10  centavos; 
and  30  in  6  rows  of  5  each  for  the  50  and  100  centavos. 

As  appears  from  the  inscription,  it  will  be  observed  that  the  stamps  were 
available  for  fiscal  as  well  as  postal  purposes. 

Each  stamp  having  been  separately  engraved,  it  follows  that  there  were  as 
many  varieties  as  stamps  on  each  plate.  The  5  centavos  were  slightly  larger 
in  size  than  the  other  values. 

It  is  necessary  to  deal  with  these  stamps  separately,  and  special  attention 
is  required  for  the  5  centavos  stamp,  having  regard  to  the  numerous  retouches 
to  which  the  plate  was  subjected  during  its  short  life  of  from  18  months  to 
two  years  at  the  outside. 

In  my  former  "Notes"  I  inclined  to  the  opinion  that  there  were  twodistinct 
plates  of  this  value  from  which  printings  took  place,  but  I  have  since  come 
to  the  conclusion  that  only  one  plate  was  prepared.  My  original  opinion 
was  based  partly  upon  the  difference  in  the  measurements  of  the  stamps 
(which,  however,  was  probably  caused  by  the  difference  in  the  quality  of 
the  paper  used  and  the  variation  of  shrinkage  in  drying),  and  partly  upon 
certain  peculiarities  in  the  stamps  of  the  later  printings,  which  were  not 
present  in  the  earlier  ones.  Further  examination,  however,  led  to  the 
discovery  of  an  error  which  appeared  in  two  stamps,  one  being  No.  47  and 
the  other  No.  58.  In  No.  47  of  each  of  the  first  five  plates,  and  in  the 
first  printing  from  Plate  VI.,  the  bottom  horizontal  line  of  the  background 
extends  too  much  to  the  left,  and  shows  itself  in  the  white  space  between 
the  background  and  the  rectangular  frame  in  the  left  corner.  In  No.  58 
there  is  a  projection  at  the  right  upper  angle  of  the  stamp,  which  also 
appears  in  the  first  six  plates.  This,  coupled  with  the  fact  that  the  white 
oval  containing  the  figures  of  value  always  appears  in  the  same  position 
relative  to  the  four  words  in  the  oval  band,  appears  to  be  conclusive  on 
the  point.     This  may  be  noticed  more  particularly  in  the  following  stamps  : — 

In  No.  I  the  oval  just  touches  the  "b"  of  "BOLIVIA." 

In  Nos.  29,  30,  42,  and  43  it  almost  touches  the  "S"  of  both  "CENTAVOS" 
and  "  CONTRATOS." 

In  Nos.  37  and  40  it  touches  the  "  C  "  of  "centavos." 
In  Nos.  49,  52,  and  63  it  touches  the  "  s"  of  "  CENTAVOS." 


THE   STAMPS   OF  BOLIVIA.  117 

In  No.  69  the  top  of  the  oval  in  the  lower  right-hand  corner  is  almost 
below  the  "s"  of  "  CENTAVOS,"  instead  of  coming  up  between  it  and  the 
"S"   of  "CONTRATOS." 

To  enable  these  peculiarities  to  be  appreciated  more  fully,  I  have  brought 
specimens  of  the  following  :  Nos.  i,  43,  37,  49,  and  69,  from  which  you  can  see 
at  a  glance  how  material  they  are  upon  this  point.  No.  i  in  all  the  plates  is 
also  shown  in  the  reproductions  which  have  been  prepared  to  illustrate  this 
paper.  It  would  appear,  then,  that  there  was  only  one  plate,  which  was 
retouched  from  time  to  time,  and  strictly  speaking  the  various  alterations 
should  be  described  as  Plate  I.,  first,  second,  third  retouch.  It  will  be  more 
convenient,  however,  if  for  descriptive  purposes  I  term  the  retouches 
Plates  II.,  III.,  etc.,  it  being  distinctly  understood  that  I  do  not  mean 
actual  new  plates  by  this  description. 

In  the  "  Notes  "  before  referred  to  it  was  stated  that  there  were  five  plates, 
which  I  termed  A  to  E  respectively  ;  but  in  the  course  of  further  investigation 
I  find  there  are  actually  seven  plates,  and  even  these  do  not  include  a  slight 
retouch  which  took  place  after  the  yellow-green  shade  and  before  the 
succeeding  sap-green  colour  was  used.  The  order  of  the  plates  also  as 
given  in  the  "  Notes "  is  not  quite  correct,  as  will  appear  later  on. 

Now  I  can  quite  well  imagine  that  any  collector,  however  enthusiastic, 
might  well  pause  before  taking  up  a  country  in  which  504  (7  x  72)  varieties 
were  to  be  looked  for  in  one  of  the  stamps  of  its  first  issue.  But  after  all 
it  is  not  necessary  to  undertake  this  task  to  secure  a  representative  collection, 
nor  are  the  difficulties  anything  like  so  great  as  would  appear  at  first  sight. 
Only  a  specialist  would  attempt  to  procure  all  the  varieties,  and  probably 
he  would  get  tired  of  the  work  unless  he  were  able  to  procure  unused  sheets 
— some  of  which,  I  may  mention,  are  still  in  the  market. 

My  present  aim  is  to  indicate  the  leading  characteristics  of  each  plate, 
and  to  point  out  some  of  the  more  prominent  varieties,  and  anyone  who 
is  able  to  obtain  one  of  the  average  specimens  of  each  plate,  and  also 
some  three  or  four  of  the  more  prominent  varieties,  will  probably  have  no 
cause  to  regret  hereafter  the  slight  trouble  and  small  expense  involved  in 
their  acquisition. 

For  those,  however,  who  may  think  the  following  descriptions  too  com- 
plicated or  too  troublesome  to  remember,  there  is  an  exceedingly  easy  way 
of  distinguishing  some  five  varieties  of  these  five  CENTAVOS  stamps. 

The  globe  upon  which  the  eagle  stands  is  crossed  by  other  lines,  some 
vertical,  some  diagonal,  and  some  horizontal,  and  the  presence,  absence,  or 
combination  of  these  lines  serves  to  distinguish  one  variety  from  another. 
To  prevent  confusion  I  will  indicate  these  varieties  by  the  letters  A  to  E. 

A.  There  are  vertical  and  diagonal  lines  upon  the  globe.  These  are 
to  be  found  on  Plate  I. — No.  42. 

B.  There  are  only  diagonal  lines  in  the  globe.  These  may  be  found  on 
Plate  II.  and  in  one  stamp  on  Plate  I. — No.   12. 

C.  There  are  diagonal  lines  and  new  horizontal  counter  lines  to  the 
right  of  the  globe.  These  may  be  found  on  Plates  III.,  IV.,  and  (some  few 
stamps)  on  V. 


ii8  THE  STAMPS   OF  BOLIVIA. 

D.  There  are  only  the  horizontal  counter  lines  to  the  right  of  the  globe. 
These  may  be  found  on  Plates  III.  or  IV.  (some  few  only)  and  on  V.  and  VI. 

E.  There  are  no  lines  at  all  other  than  the  curved  ones  forming  the 
globe  itself.  These  may  be  found  on  Plates  VI.  and  VII.,  the  latter  being  the 
plate  from  which  the  lilac-coloured  stamps  are  printed. 

To  show  these  varieties  I  have  had  illustrations  made  of  each,  indicating 
the  plate  from  which  it  is  taken,  and  the  number  of  the  stamp  on  such 
plate. 

All  other  varieties  will  be  more  properly  described  in  connection  with  the 
plates  on  which  they  may  be  found,  and  those  most  prominent  will  be 
specially  referred  to. 

Plate   I. 

In  its  original  state  the  yellow -green  stamps  were  printed  from  this 
plate.  The  yellow  varies  a  good  deal  in  shade,  and  I  have  found  some 
few  stamps  of  a  shade  of  green  quite  distinct  both  from  the  yellow  and 
from  the  succeeding  green.  One  of  these  is  No.  lO  on  the  plate,  and  it 
is  a  wonderfully  clear  impression,  almost  as  distinct  as  the  yellow-green. 
For  purposes  of  comparison  perhaps  you  would  examine  the  three  stamps 
now  before  you,  all  being  No.  lo  on  Plate  I.  :  one  yellow-green,  one  the 
ordinary  shade  of  green,  and  the  other  being  the  one  just  referred  to. 

It  has  been  generally  assumed  that  both  the  yellow -green  and  the 
sap  -  green  stamps  were  printed  from  the  same  plate  before  any  retouch 
took  place  ;  but  I  am  inclined  to  think  the  plate  became  worn  while  the 
yellow  -  green  colour  was  being  used,  or  very  shortly  afterwards,  so  as  to 
render  a  partial  and  slight  retouch  necessary. 

If  you  will  refer  to  the  five  stamps  now  before  you,  being  Nos.  ii  and  12 
on  the  plate,  and  compare  the  pair  of  yellow-green  with  the  pair  of  later 
green  immediately  below,  then  you  will  notice  to  how  large  an  extent 
the  lines  of  the  wings  have  been  retouched  and  strengthened ;  this  is  very 
marked  in  No.  12.  The  fifth  stamp  is  also  No.  12  in  the  later  shade  of 
green,  but  before  the  retouch  took  place,  and  you  will  find  it  to  be  identical 
with  the  yellow-green  stamp,  although  slightly  worn.  (See  also  the  same 
numbers  in  the  illustrations  of  Plates  I.  to  VII.) 

If  you  will  also  examine  the  four  stamps,  being  Nos.  41  and  42  in  the 
yellow-green,  early  and  worn  impression,  with  the  same  numbers  on  Plate  I. 
of  the  later  green  colour  (early  impression),  you  will  see  in  the  last-named 
signs  of  retouches  about  the  lines  of  the  head  of  the  eagle  and  in  the 
background. 

Generally,  if  you  will  take  any  one  of  the  blocks  of  yellow-green  stamps 
which  are  here  to-night,  and  compare  them  with  the  stamps  in  the  same 
position  on  the  early  printing  of  the  green  colour,  you  will  observe  that 
in  many  cases  the  lines  in  the  background  of  the  last-named  stamps  have 
been  strengthened. 

For  these  reasons  I  submit  that  there  must  have  been  a  slight  retouch 
before  the  sap-green  stamps  were  printed,  but  it  seems  to  have  been  so 
slight  and  partial  as  not  to  warrant  its  being  described  as  a  separate 
plate. 


THE  STAMPS   OF  BOLIVIA.  119 

The  colours  of  Plate  I.,  therefore,  appear  to  have  been  yellow-green, 
dark  green,  sap-green,  and  bright  and  dull  green. 

The  paper  used  is  wove,  but  it  varies  greatly  in  thickness  both  in  the 
yellow-green  and  in  the  other  shades,  as  you  may  see  from  the  specimens 
before  you. 

The  chai'acteristics  of  Plate  I.  may  be  summarised  thus  :  The  lines  of  the 
globe  in  all  the  stamps  (except  No.  12,  where  they  are  hardly  visible)  are 
crossed  by  a  series  of  small  vertical  lines,  while  at  the  extreme  right  there 
are  two  or  three  diagonal  lines  curving  slightly  inwards.  These  vertical 
lines  commence  about  the  middle  of  the  upper  portion  of  the  globe, 
extending  thence  towards  the  right,  except  in  the  case  of  a  few  stamps 
in  the  two  top  rows  of  the  sheet,  where  they  are  confined  to  the  extreme 
right  of  the  globe.  There  are  no  traces  of  old  lines  underneath  any  portion 
of  the  design,  and  only  some  few  indications  of  strengthening  of  existing 
lines,  and  these  indications  are  confined  to  the  background  and  (in  three 
or  four  cases  only)  to  the  general  outlines.  The  workmanship  throughout 
is  fine  and  delicate,  clear  and  distinct.  The  shape  of  the  head  of  the  eagle 
is  well  defined.  With  some  few  exceptions  the  lines  of  shading  on  the 
breast  of  the  eagle  are  only  horizontal  and  diagonal.  The  vertical  lines 
in  the  exceptions  are  limited  to  two  or  three  at  most,  running  parallel 
with  the  vertical  lines  of  the  wings.  There  are,  however,  some  few 
indicating  the  line  of  the  throat  above  the  breast,  which  are  vertical.  In 
some  of  the  stamps  (most  of  them  being  in  the  third  row)  the  "  A "  of 
"CONTRATOS,"  and  in  two  or  three  stamps  the  "A"  also  of  "  CENTAVOS," 
is  not  barred,  being  really  an  inverted  "  V." 

Prominent   Varieties : — 

These  all  arise  either  from  a  slip  of  the  engraver's  tool,  or  from  careless 
workmanship  in  retouching  defective  portions  of  the  design.  I  have 
throughout  specially  indicated  the  more  important  varieties,  but  the  list  is 
by  no  means  exhaustive. 

T/ie  foUowi7ig  are  peculiar  to  Plate  I. : — 

No.  3.  There  is  a  short  line  joining  the  back  of  the  "  5  "  in  the  lower 
left  corner  to  the  outline  of  the  oval. 

No.  41.  There  is  a  vertical  line  in  the  upper  left-hand  oval,  containing 
the  figure  "  5."  (This  is  one  of  the  stamps  to  which  I  have  just  called  your 
attention.) 

No.  44.  There  is  a  short  horizontal  line  in  the  oval  band  between  the 

"S"   of  "CENTAVOS"   and   the   "S"   of  "CONTRATOS." 

No.  57.  There  are  ttvo  short  horizontal  lines  in  the  oval  band  just  beloiv  the 
"C"  .^/''CORREOS,"  and  there  are  no  pinions  to  the  right  wing.  {^Sce  Illustration.) 

The  following  may  be  found  on  other  plates : — 

Nos.  7  and  10.  The  upper  horizontal  outer  frame  of  these  stamps 
extends  a  little  too  far  to  the  right.  This  is  to  be  found  on  Plates  I. 
and  II. 

No.  12.  There  is  a  diagonal  line  above  the  "l"  of  '"BOLIVIA,"  which 
extends  upwards   towards  the  right  in  the  margin  above  the  outer  frame 


i26  THE  STAMPS  OF  BOLIVIA. 

of  the  stamp.  This  is  to  be  found  in  Plates  I.  and  II.;  but  in  the  illustrations 
it  does  not  show,  as  the  stamps  have  been  cut  too  closely. 

No.  13.  The  outer  line  of  the  right  wing  runs  into  the  oval  band  below, 
cutting  the  "  S  "  and  touching  the  "  O  "  of  "  CENTAVOS."  Traces  of  this, 
but  showing  only  the  line  between  the  "O"  and  the  "S"  of  "CENTAVOS," 
are  to  be  found  on  Plates  II.,  III.,  and  IV.     {See  Illustrations.) 

No.  42.  There  is  a  vertical  line  in  the  left  top  corner,  just  beside  the 
oval  containing  the  figure  "  5."  This  is  to  be  found  also  on  Plates  II., 
III.,  and  IV. 

No.  47.  This  is  the  error  before  referred  to  (namely,  the  projection 
under  the  lower  left  corner  of  the  "  $ "  oval),  which  is  to  be  found  on 
Plates  I.  to  V. 

No.  58.  There  is  a  horizontal  line  covering  the  narrow  space  between 
the  background  and  the  outer  rectangular  frame  at  the  top  of  the  right 
side.  This  is  also  to  be  found  on  Plates  II.,  III.,  IV,  V.,  and  in  the  earlier 
printings  from  Plate  VI. 

There  is  one  further  feature  to  be  referred  to,  which  may  or  may  not 
be  found  in  stamps  printed  from  the  other  plates,  and  that  is  a  double 
impression.     See  the  block  of  sixteen  which  you  have  before  you. 

Plate  II. 

This  plate  was  provisionally  called  B  in  my  former  "  Notes,"  and,  as 
previously  explained,  it  is  the  old  plate  which  has  been  subjected  to  a 
thorough  and  general  retouch.  That  such  retouch  was  not  made  before  it 
was  needed,  you  may  see  for  yourselves  if  you  will  look  at  the  specimens 
from  the  worn  plate,  which  are  here. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  refer  you  to  individual  stamps.  If  you  will 
look  at  the  two  plates  you  will  see  a  distinct  difference  in  each  stamp,  and 
the  illustrations  of  Nos.  i  and  13  and  of  Nos.  11  and  12  also  show  these 
differences  very  clearly.  The  colours  are  deep  green  and  bluish  green,  and 
they  are  printed  upon  thick  and  also  upon  thin  wove  paper. 

The  folloii'ing  are  the  characteristics  of  Plate  II.:  — 

The  vertical  lines  on  the  globe  have  commenced  to  disappear.  Out  of 
the  72  types  there  are  some  18  where  they  are  fairly  distinct ;  in  some  28 
copies  there  are  faint  traces  ;  while  in  the  remaining  26  they  have  totally 
disappeared.  The  diagonal  lines  on  the  globe  have  either  been  deepened  or 
newly  cut  {e.g.,  observe  No.  12  on  the  plate  and  compare  with  Plate  I.) ;  and, 
speaking  generally,  there  appears  to  be  a  slight  shadow  over  the  extreme 
right  of  the  globe.  There  are  faint  traces  on  the  breast  of  almost  all  the 
stamps  of  the  old  lines  of  shading  in  Plate  I.  The  shading  on  the  breast  is 
much  coarser  and  heavier,  and  numerous  vertical  lines  have  been  added. 

Proitmient   Varieties. —  The  following  are  peculiar  to  Plate  II.: — 

No.  4.    There  is  a  distinct  vertical    line  passing  from   the  background 

upwards   into   the   upper   right-haiid  oval  contai7ii7ig   the  figure  "5,"   which 

almost  touches  the  back  of  the  "  5,"  and  the  outer  line  of  the  inscription  label  is 

doubled  on  the  left  side  between  the  upper  atid  the  lower  "  5."  {See  Illustration.) 

No.  15.  There  is  a  diagonal  line  crossing  the  white  space  above  the  right 


Plate  I     No.  60 


LINES    ON    GLOBE.     5    Varieties. 
Plate  2     No.  6  Plate  3     No.  32  Plate  5     No.  41  Plate  6     No.  13 


Vertical  and  Diagonal.  Diagonal  only.       Diagonal  and  Horizontal. 


Horizontal  only.       No  lines  except  the  curved 
ones  forming  shape  of  globe. 


6  Vertical  Pairs,  Left  Corners. 


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Plate 


II 


12 


Plate  I 


No.  57 


Plate  I 
Yellow  Green 


Plate  2 


Plate  3 


Plate  4 


Plate  5 


Plate  6 


No.  4 


No.  56 


No.  1 5 


No.  36 


No.  66 


Plate  I 


Plate  2 


Plate  3 


Plate  4 


Plate 


Plate  6 


Plate  7 


No.  3 


7  Single  Specimens. 

Prominent  variety  from  each 

plate. 


Plate  7 


8  Horizontal  Pairs.    Right  corners. 


THE  STAMPS   OF  BOLIVIA.  \i\ 

wing,  and  cutting  the  other  line,  running  from  the  body  of  the  eagle,  which 
is  usually  found  in  that  position.  There  is  also  a  horizontal  line  covering 
the  narrow  space  between  the  background  and  the  outer  rectangular  frame, 
about  midway  down  the  right  side;  as  to  which,  however,  see  note  to  No.  71 
(infra). 

No.  44.  In  redrawing  the  outer  outline  of  the  oval  band  the  portion 
between  the  "  r"  of  "CORREOS"  and  the  left  bottom  "  5  "  has  been  doubled. 

The  following  may  be  found  on  other  plates : — 

No.  71.  There  is  a  horizontal  line  covering  the  narrow  space  between  the 
background  and  the  outer  rectangular  frame,  about  midway  down  the  right 
side.  This  is  also  to  be  found  on  Plates  III.,  IV.,  and  V.,  but  it  may  easily 
be  confused  with  somewhat  similar  lines  to  be  found  in  some  stamps  from 
Plate  I.,  such  as  Nos.  43,  53,  and  6y,  where,  however,  it  is  somewhat 
lower  down,  and  is  not  so  thick  as  in  Plate  II. 

Plate  III. 

At  firstlthought  this  was  identical  withPIate  II., being  merely  an  impression 
from  the  worn  plate,  prior  to  a  retouch,  but  further  examination  shows  this  is 
not  so.  There  are  alterations  in  the  body,  in  the  wings,  and  in  the  back- 
ground of  several  of  the  stamps.  Note  and  compare  :  For  the  body.  No.  24 ; 
for  the  wings,  Nos.  15,  22,  32,  and  48  ;  for  the  background,  Nos.  36  and  58. 
In  addition  there  has  been  an  alteration  in  the  globe,  which  affects  all  the 
stamps. 

The  following  are  the  characteristics  of  Plate  III. : — 

The  vertical  lines  on  the  globe  have  entirely  disappeared.  The  diagonal 
lines  show  plainly  on  most  of  the  stamps,  and  with  the  exception  of  ten 
(Nos.  28,  31,  42,  44,  45,  52,  53,  59,  70,  and  71)  there  are  fairly  distinct  traces 
of  them  in  the  others.  In  the  case  of  all  the  stamps,  however,  new  hori- 
zontal counter  lines  have  been  added  at  the  extreme  right  of  the  globe.  This, 
coupled  with  the  white  and  open  appearance  of  the  breast  of  the  eagle,  is  the 
most  striking  feature  of  the  plate.  Nearly  all  the  lines  of  shading  there 
and  in  the  throat  have  disappeared,  leaving  only  a  few  faint  traces  behind. 
The  head,  however,  is  still  well  defined.  The  lines  of  the  wings  are  not 
strong,  and  in  some  copies  slightly  defective.  The  background  of  the  oval 
has  been  redrawn,  and  is  very  clear  and  distinct. 

The  colour  of  this  plate  is  sap-green,  similar  to  the  stamps  printed  from 
Plate  I. 

Prominent   Varieties. —  The  following  are  peculiar  to  Plate  III.: — 

No.  39.  In  redrawing  the  right  wing  the  engraver  has  made  only  three 
curved  lines  instead  of  four,  and  consequently  one  of  the  small  feather 
pinions  appears  outside  the  wing. 

No.  48.  The  outer  line  of  the  right  wing  is  bent  opposite  the  "  A "  of 
"  CONTRATOS." 

No.  56.  The  left  wing  is  badly  drawn,  the  outer  line  runs  up  vertically  from 
the  bottom,  instead  of  inclinirig  to  the  right,  and  so  entirely  breaks  the  shape  of 
the  zving ;  the  inner  outline  of  the  oval  band  is  doubled  between  the  "C"  of 


122  THE  STAMPS  OF  BOLIVIA. 

"  CORREOS  "  and  the  "  N  "  of  "  CENTAVOS."     Several  of  the  lines  of  the  inner 
background  penetrate  the  oval  band.   {See  Illustration.) 

These  errors  were  corrected  in  the  next  plate,  and  although  traces  of 
them  may  be  seen,  they  are  faint  and  partial  as  compared  with  the  stamps  on 
Plate  III. 

The  following  varieties  are  to  be  found  on  other  plates : — 

No.  15.  There  are  two  small  feather  pinions  outside  the  right  wing. 
These  are  also  to  be  found  on  Plates  IV.  and  V. 

No.  65.  A  line  from  the  outer  background  penetrates  the  oval  band 
horizontally  between  the  "  T  "  and  the  "  O  "  of  "  CONTRATOS."  This  is  also 
to  be  found  on  Plates  IV.  and  V. 

Plate  IV. 

In  my  "  Notes  "  I  called  this  Plate  D,  placing  it  after  the  succeeding  plate, 
which  I  then  termed  C.  It  seems  quite  clear,  however,  that  it  should 
come  before  and  not  after.  Take,  for  instance,  the  stamp  No.  56  just  referred 
to.  The  errors  described  under  Plate  III.  are  corrected  in  this  plate,  but  not 
so  completely  as  they  might  have  been,  s6  that  traces  of  the  outer  vertical 
line  of  the  left  wing  can  be  seen,  and  the  lines  which  penetrate  the  oval 
band  are  also  visible.  If,  however,  you  turn  to  Plate  V.  you  will  find  that  all 
traces  of  these  defects  have  been  removed.  In  No.  i  also  (which  is  illus- 
trated) you  will  observe  in  Plate  III.  four  short  horizontal  lines  of  shading  on 
the  breast.     These  also  appear  on  Plate  IV.,  but  not  on  Plate  V. 

Similar  indications  may  be  found  on  Nos.  13  and  47,  and  possibly  on 
many  other  stamps,  but  the  above  are  sufficient  to  prove  the  priority  of  this 
plate  over  the  following  one. 

I  have  only  seen  this  plate  in  a  very  dark  green  colour. 

The  following  are  the  characteristics  of  Plate  IV.: — 

The  lines  of  the  globe  are  similar  to  those  in  Plate  III.,  the  diagonal 
lines  showing  plainly  on  nearly  all  the  stamps;  but  there  is  an  indistinct 
thickness,  forming  a  dark  shadow  on  the  right  of  the  globe  in  each 
stamp.  This,  coupled  with  the  rough  and  coarse  (but  not  worn)  appearance 
of  the  workmanship,  is  a  marked  characteristic  of  the  plate.  The  breast  of 
the  eagle  is  well  shaded,  but  a  plain  white  space,  varying  in  length  and 
shape,  is  left  in  the  centre.  There  are  only  three  stamps  which  have 
anything  like  an  open  appearance  (viz.,  Nos.  34,  46,  and  90),  and  even  in  these 
it  is  not  nearly  so  pronounced  as  in  Plate  III.  The  head  of  the  eagle  is 
blurred  and  defective,  and  where  any  shape  can  be  distinguished  it  generally 
appears  to  be  somewhat  smaller  than  in  the  previous  plates.  The  lines  of  the 
wings  are  complete.  The  background  appears  in  many  places  to  be  almost 
solid  until  examined  under  a  glass  (possibly,  however,  this  is  caused  by  the 
heavy  printing  on  the  one  sheet  I  possess,  and  may  not  really  be  a 
characteristic  of  the  plate). 

Varieties.  —  The  folloiving  are  peculiar  to  Plate  IV. : — 
No.  I.  There  is  a  vertical  line  extending  downwards  from  the  right  leg  of 
tlie  "  A  "  and  the  bottom  of  the  "  v  "  of  "  CENTAVOS." 


THE  STAMPS   OF  BOLIVIA.  I23 

No.  3.  There  is  a  line  in  the  white  space  above  the  right  wing,  caused  by 
a  slip  of  the  engraver's  tool  from  the  wing  upwards. 

No.  18.  There  is  a  short  line  zvhich  cuts  the  cross-stroke  of  the  figure  "5"  ^'^ 
the  right  top  corner. 

No.  19.  The  outline  of  the  oval  containing  the  left  lower  "5"  is  doubled 
on  the  upper  side. 

No.  26.  There  is  a  slight  slip  of  the  engraver's  tool  at  the  foot  of  the  "5" 
in  the  right  top  corner. 

No.  47.  There  is  a  slight  slip  at  the  bottom  of  the  left  top  oval,  making 
a  short  line  in  the  central  oval  band. 

No.  52.  There  are  similar  slips  under  the  "  B  "  and  the  "  O  "  of  "  BOLIVIA." 

No.  60.  There  is  a  slip  in  the  right  lower  oval,  which  passes  right  through 
the  back  of  the  "  5  "  and  shows  under  the  cross-stroke,  and  at  the  bottom 
of  the  oval  itself. 

The  following  are  also  to  be  found  on  other  plates : — 

No.  65.  Besides  the  line  between  the  "t"  and  the  "O"  of  "  CONTRATOS," 
referred  to  in  Plate  III.,  there  are  two  parallel  lines  which  cross  the  open 
space  in  the  breast  of  the  eagle,  slanting  downwards  from  left  to  right. 
There  are  also  two  lines  in  the  oval  bands  (caused  by  slips),  one  running 
horizontally  from  the  top  of  the  "e"  of  "CENTAVOS"  to  the  inner  outlines 
of  the  band,  and  the  other  crossing  the  band  at  the  top,  cutting  through  the 
"b"  and  the  "o"  of  "BOLIVIA."  This  is  also  to  be  found  on  Plate  V.  and  in 
the  first  period  of  Plate  VI. 

No.  2.  There  is  a  diagonal  line  from  the  foot  of  the  "5"  in  the  right  top 
corner,  passing  downwards  into  the  oval  band.  Traces  of  this  are  to  be 
found  on  Plate  V. 

No.  5.  There  is  a  line  under  the  "b"  of  "BOLIVIA."  Faint  traces  are  to 
be  found  on  Plate  V. 

Nos.  7,  30,  and  33.  There  are  horizontal  lines  crossing  the  narrow  space 
between  the  background  and  the  outer  rectangular  frame  on  the  left  side. 
These  are  also  to  be  found  on  Plates  V.  and  VI. 

No.  39.  There  are  two  small  feather  pinions  outside  the  right  wing. 
These  are  also  to  be  found  on  Plates  V,  VI.,  and  VII. 

No.  43.  There  is  a  similar  but  vertical  line  at  the  upper  side.  This 
is  also  to  be  found  on  Plate  V. 

There  is  a  line  in  the  white  space  above  the  right  wing,  caused  by  slips  of 
the  engraver's  tool  from  the  background  ;  also  to  be  found  in  Plates  V. 
and  VI. 

No.  23.  There  is  a  similar  line  caused  by  a  slip  from  the  wing ;  also  to  be 
found  in  Plate  V. 

No.  25.  There  is  a  similar  line  of  the  oval  containing  the  left  top  "5," 
passing  downwards  from  the  base  of  the  5 ;  also  to  be  found  in  Plate  V. 

No.  28.  There  is  a  vertical  line  between  the  bottom  of  the  "  v  "  and  the 
"  I "  of  "  BOLIVIA  " ;  also  to  be  found  on  Plate  V.,  and  in  the  first  period 
of  Plate  VI. 

No.  29.  The  left  side  line  of  the  outer  rectangular  frame  extends  too 
far  upwards ;  also  to  be  found  on  Plate  V.  There  is  a  similar  error  in  No. 
26  of  Plate  II. 


124  The  stamps  of  Bolivia. 

No.  44.  There  is  a  line  under  the  "v"  of  "Bolivia";  also  to  be  found 
on  Plate  V, 

No.  6^.  There  is  a  horizontal  hne  crossing  the  first  "r"  of  "CORREOS"; 
also  to  be  found  on  Plate  V.,  and  in  the  first  period  of  Plate  VI. 

No.  66.  There  is  a  line  in  the  oval  band  under  the  letters  "  COR "  of 
"  CORREOS  "  ;  also  to  be  found  on  Plate  V. 

There  are,  in  addition,  various  other  slips,  and  the  whole  plate  shows 
signs  of  the  retouch  having  been  hurriedly  and  carelessly  done. 

Plate  V, 
This  was  termed  C  in  my  previous  "  Notes,"  but  it  really  is  the  fifth  or 
last  retouch  but  two,  from  which  stamps  were  printed  in  a  green  colour.  I 
have  found  stamps  from  this  plate  in  dark  green  and  in  blue-green  shades ; 
but  until  the  last  two  or  three  days  I  was  convinced  that  no  printings  were 
taken  in  the  lilac  colour.  I  have,  however,  two  most  interesting  stamps  to 
show  you  to  night.  Some  time  ago  I  purchased  at  auction,  for  a  high 
price,  what  appeared  to  be  a  remarkably  fine  impression  in  a  violet  shade, 
apparently  printed  from  this  plate  (V.) ;  but  although  I  identified  it  with  No. 
14  on  the  plate,  and  fondly  imagined  I  had  secured  a  great  rarity,  both  as 
to  colour  and  plate,  the  stamp  has  been  pronounced  a  forgery,  both  by  Mr. 
Bacon  and  by  Mr.  De  Coppett.  The  other  stamp  to  which  I  refer  was  part 
of  a  made-up  plate  of  the  lilac  colour,  in  which  it  appeared  as  No.  5,  being 
apparently  unused,  and  of  an  unusually  reddish  shade.  Upon  examination 
I  found  it  was  evidently  not  No.  5  in  Plate  VII.,  and  as  I  could  not  identify  it 
with  any  other  stamp  on  that  plate,  I  submitted  it  to  Mr.  Bacon,  who  was 
of  opinion  that  it  was  quite  genuine,  the  curious  shade  being  accounted  for 
by  the  stamp  having  been  cleaned,  and  that  it  was  printed  from  Plate  V. 
The  stamp  appears  to  be  absolutely  identical  with  No.  5  on  Plate  V.,  and 
I  am  forced  to  the  conclusion  that  stamps  were  printed  from  this  plate 
in  the  lilac  shade,  although  such  a  fact  altogether  upsets  the  theory  I  had 
previously  formed.  Certainly,  however,  stamps  in  this  shade,  from  this  plate, 
must  be  exceedingly  rare. 

The  following  are  the  characteristics  of  Plate  V. : 

The  diagonal  lines  on  the  globe  have  mostly  disappeared,  only  15  stamps 
showing  any  traces  of  them  (viz.,  Nos.  i,  2,  4,  6,  9,  11,  12,  21,  22,  34,  54, 
60,  64,  66,  and  6y),  while  the  rest  show  only  the  new  horizontal  lines  to  the 
right,  and  this  is  an  important  feature  of  the  plate.  The  shadow  to  the  right 
of  the  globe  is  not  nearly  so  pronounced  as  in  Plate  IV.,  but  much  more  like 
the  stamps  from  Plate  II. 

There  are  just  two  or  three  stamps  where  the  horizontal  counter  lines 
show  signs  of  wearing  away  (viz.,  Nos.  53  and  55). 

Speaking  generally  the  breast  has  again  begun  to  get  an  open  and  white 
appearance,  though  not  so  much  as  in  Plate  III.  (except  as  regards  Nos.  34,  36, 
and  60).  The  head  of  the  eagle  is  better  formed,  though  not  so  well  as  in 
Plate  III.  Several  of  the  wings  are  very  defective  through  wear.  The  back- 
ground is  moderately  distinct,  though  rough,  and  the  plate  is  beginning  to 
show  evident  signs  of  wear,  though  some  of  the  earlier  impressions  are 
fairly  good. 


OCCASIONAL  NOTES.  125 

Varieties. —  The  following  are  peculiar  to  Plate   V. : — 

No.  16.  In  the  left  bottom  corner  the  line  Joining  the  cross-stroke  of  the 
"5  "  to  the  body  of  the  figure  is  missiftg. 

No.  66.  The  spelling  of  the  word  "BOLIVIA"  more  nearly  resembles 
"BOIIVIAR." 

Nos.  17,  41,  61,  and  64.  The  left  wing  of  the  eagle  is  very  defective. 

Nos.  29  and  62.  The  right  and  left  wings  are  both  defective. 

Nos.  51  and  55.  The  right  wing  is  very  defective. 

The  followifig  may  also  be  found  on  Plate   VI. : — 

No.  24.  There  is  a  line  in  the  left  upper  oval  above  the  top  of  the 
figure  "  5." 

No.  50.  There  are  two  short  lines  (almost  dots)  in  the  centre  of  the 
white  space  on  the  eagle's  breast. 

No.  54.  There  is  a  line  in  the  oval  band  extending  upwards  from  the 
right   lower    "  5 "    oval,    crossing   the    "  S,"    and    reaching    to   the   "  O "    of 

"CONTRATOS."  i^To  be  continued.) 


ctasianal  l^oles. 


THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION. 


HE  arrangements  for  this  much-anticipated  event  are  progressing  most 
MiM  satisfactorily.  A  large  number  of  valued  and  interesting  exhibits 
have  been  notified  to  the  Hon.  Secretary,  and  the  catalogue  has  been  taken 
in  hand  by  a  sub-committee.  Advertisers  should  take  due  note  hereof. 
The  not  unimportant  festive  part  of  the  programme  during  the  holding 
of  the  Exhibition  has  also  been  placed  in  the  hands  of  an  efficient  and 
experienced  sub-committee.  We  are  further  informed  that  the  following 
gentlemen  have  accepted  the  invitation  of  the  Committee  to  act  as  Judges 
for  the  purposes  of  the  awards  in  the  several  competitions : — 

Mr.  E.  D.  Bacon        Mr.  M.  P.  Castle        Major  E.  B.  Evans 
Dr.  a.  H.  Fraenkel  and  Lieut.  F.  H.  Napier,  r.n. 

Two  other  representatives  of  foreign  countries  have  been  invited,  and  as 
soon  as  their  replies  have  been  received  the  list  of  Judges  will  be  completed. 

It  has  been  arranged  that  the  Exhibition  will  be  opened  on  Thursday, 
the  22nd  July,  at  3  p.m.,  by  H.R.H.  the  Duke  of  York,  K.G. 

The  prices  of  admission  fixed  by  the  Committee  are  : — 

On  the  opening  day  (up  to  6  p.m.),  by  tickets  only,  which  must  be      j.      ^ 

obtained  beforehand  .  .  .  .         .     10     o 

After  6  p.m.  on  the  opening  day  .  .  .  ..26 

Admission  on  all  other  occasions .  .  .  ..10 


126 


OCCASIONAL  NOTES. 


Season   Tickets  can   be  obtained   for  the  whole   period  of    the      s.      d. 

Exhibition,  including  admission  to  the  opening     .  .         .150 

Ditto,  for  whole  period  except  opening        .  .  .         ,       j     6 

Tickets  can  now  be  booked  on  application  to  the  Secretary,  J.  A.  Tilleard, 
4,  Lombard  Court,  E.C.,  and  will  be  forwarded  as  soon  as  issued.  Postal 
Orders  for  the  tickets  bespoken  must  accompany  all  orders. 


THE  PRINCE   OF   WALES'  HOSPITAL  FUND  STAMPS. 

E  publish  with  pleasure  the  following  official  announcement : — 

The  Jubilee  Stamps  issued  for  the  benefit  of  this  Fund  will  be  on 
sale  to  the  public  on  Tuesday  next,  May  i8th,  and  can  be  bought  then  at  all 
stationers'  and  booksellers',  with  the  exception  of  the  railway  bookstalls. 
They  are  issued  to  give  small  subscribers  a  handy  and  convenient  form 
of  receipt,  and  one  which  they  can  retain  as  a  memento  of  the  Diamond 
Jubilee,  and  of  that  increasing  interest  in  hospital  support  and  management 
shown  during  Her  Majesty's  reign,  not  only  by  the  Royal  Family,  but  by  all 
classes  throughout  the  country,  and  culminating  in  this  effort  to  set  the 
hospitals  of  London  on  a  sound  financial  basis.  It  is  also  evident  that 
stamp  collectors  are  largely  interested,  and  spaces  for  these  stamps  are  being 
made  in  many  new  albums,  in  addition  to  the  issue  of  specially-prepared 
pages  for  insertion  in  existing  albums,  as  in  that  by  Messrs.  Lincoln.  It  is 
impossible  to  say  exactly  to  whom  the  initiation  of  the  idea  can  be  credited, 
but  to  Mr.  Burdett  will  be  due  the  success  of  the  scheme.  The  basis  of  the 
design  selected  by  the  Prince  of  Wales  is  taken  from  no  less  an  authority 
in  Art  than  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds,  whose  well-known  picture  of  "  Charity," 
executed  for  one  of  the  Virtues  in  New  College  Chapel,  Oxford,  is  the  most 
appropriate  design  that  could  have  been  selected,  embodying  as  it  does  a 
beautiful  picture,  with  Mrs.  Sheridan  as  the  chief  figure. 
We  append  illustrations  of  the  two  stamps. 


Valuable  assistance  has  been  rendered  by  Mr.  De  La  Rue  and  by 
Mr.  Purcell,  C.B.,  the  Controller  of  Stamps  at  Somerset  House,  who 
have  taken  the  greatest  interest  in  the  undertaking  from  its  commence- 
ment. 

After  His  Royal  Highness  had  approved  of  the  design  the  engraving  was 


OCCASIONAL-NOTES.  127 

begun,  and  proved  a  very  much  more  serious  afifair  than  anyone  unversed  in 
these  details  would  have  anticipated.  Such  an  engraving  could  only  be 
executed  by  the  most  skilled  hand.  After  the  matrix  had  been  produced 
and  hardened,  it  had  to  be  rolled  into  the  steel  plate  under  a  pressure  of 
twenty  tons,  given  by  a  lever  set  in  motion  by  the  foot  of  the  operator,  and 
each  impression  had  to  be  rolled  in  separately,  the  greatest  care  being  taken 
to  adjust  the  proper  distances  and  a  magnifying-glass  being  constantly  in 
use.  Each  plate  contains  a  double  sheet  of  eighty,  in  which  one  false 
impression  would  spoil  the  whole,  and  great  liability  of  cracking  arises  from 
the  weight  of  the  pressure.  Every  sheet  has  to  be  accounted  for  as  carefully 
as  a  bank  note,  and  this  again  entails  still  greater  surveillance. 

It  is  needless  to  say  that  the  fact  of  His  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of 
York  being  President  of  the  Philatelic  Society  insures  the  greatest  interest 
being  taken  in  these  stamps  by  collectors  in  all  portions  of  the  globe,  and  as 
a  work  of  art  there  will  be  nothing  wanting  in  them.  A  large  quantity  of 
the  issue  has  already  been  secured  for  insertion  in  the  Queens  Commemora- 
tion Bible  and  also  in  the  Queen's  Commemoratiofi  Prayer  and  Hymn  Book, 
which  are  to  be  published  as  soon  as  the  stamps  are  ready,  and  each  of 
which  will  contain  a  stamp ;  and  we  are  informed  by  the  publisher  that  the 
greatest  interest  has  been  shown  all  over  the  country,  inquiries  having 
arrived  from  many  places  abroad,  and  telegraphic  orders  having  been 
received  even  from  South  Africa. 

His  Royal  Highness,  the  President  of  the  Fund,  has  graciously  signified 
that  he  will,  if  possible,  personally  witness  the  destruction  of  the  plates  from 
which  the  stamps  are  printed  ;  but  in  any  case  they  will  be  destroyed  as  soon 
as  the  printing  of  the  limited  number  of  the  issue  is  completed,  in  the 
presence  of  the  official  representatives  of  the  Fund,  and  of  Mr.  Purcell,  C.B., 
Controller  of  Stamps.  A  certificate  to  this  effect  will  be  duly  published  in 
accordance  with  the  usual  regulations. 

Our  readers  will  remember  that  in  the  case  of  the  Rowland  Hill  Post 
Card  in  1890,  so  great  was  the  demand  that  the  value  of  the  Post  Card 
advanced  no  less  than  2500  per  cent.,  and  we  should  add  that  the  trade 
will  be  supplied  by  Messrs.  Simpkin,  Marshall,  Hamilton,  Kent  &  Co., 
Limited,  Stationers'  Hall  Court,  London,  E.C. 


POSTAL  REFORM. 


HE  statement  of  the  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer,  in  his  introduction 
of  the  Budget,  embraces  some  important  changes  in  our  postal  system 
which  will  tend  to  make  things  easier  to  the  Philatelic  community.  We 
reproduce  the  portion  of  Sir  Michael  Hicks  Beach's  speech  referring  thereto. 


REDUCTION    IN   THE    PARCELS    RATE. 


"  Then,  further,  a  reduction  is  proposed  in  the  parcels  postage  rate.  For  every 
subsequent  pound  beyond  the  first  the  present  charge  is  i|d.,  amounting  to  a 
maximum  of  is.  6d.  In  future,  it  is  proposed  the  charge  shall  be  id.  per  pound 
up  to  a  maximum  of  is.     These  matters  may  seem  to  the  Committee  small  things 


128  OCCASIONAL  NOTES. 

in  themselves,  but,  after  all,  much  of  the  comfort  and  discomfort  of  life,  especially  in 
the  rural  districts,  is  made  up  of  small  things,  and  when  these  changes  are  carried 
into  effect  many  an  inhabitant  in  the  rural  districts  will  feel  that  his  lot  is  somewhat 
more  equalised  than  it  was  with  that  of  the  more  fortunate  dwellers  in  the  towns. 
The  next  change  is  one  of  a  larger  character,  and,  perhaps,  more  important  to  trades- 
men than  those  I  have  mentioned.  At  the  present  moment  samples  and  books 
travel  by  post  at  cheaper  rates  than  ordinary  letters.  The  postage  of  samples  and 
books  is,  however,  surrounded  by  the  Post  Office  with  the  most  minute  restrictions, 
which  are  very  troublesome  to  the  public  and  to  the  Post  Office  officials  themselves. 
The  result  of  those  restrictions  is  often  absurd.  Take,  for  instance,  the  sample  post. 
A  man  may  send  a  pair  of  gloves  as  a  sample,  but  if  the  person  to  whom  the  gloves 
are  sent  buys  them  a  penalty  is  incurred.  A  gardener  may  send  cut  flowers  as  a 
sample,  but  if  they  are  bought  a  penalty  is  incurred,  and  yet  flowers  may  be  sent 
cheaply  by  parcels  post  to  the  purchaser  in  England  from  the  South  of  France.  With 
regard  to  the  book  post,  I  dare  say  the  Committee  think  they  know  what  a  book  is. 
I  thought  I  did  until  I  studied  the  two-and-a-half  pages  of  closely-printed  matter  in 
the  Postal  Guide,  which  explained  what  a  book  is  in  the  eyes  of  the  Post  Office.  The 
Postmaster-General  proposes  that  in  the  future  the  sample  post  shall  be  entirely 
abolished;  that  the  book  post  shall  be  abohshed  above  two  ounces,  under  which 
books  will  still  go  for  a  halfpenny,  and  that  all  articles,  whether  letters,  samples,  or 
books  under  a  maximum  of  four  ounces  shall  be  sent  for  a  penny,  with  a  further 
charge  of  one  halfpenny  for  every  two  ounces  exceeding  that  amount.  I  believe  that 
will  be  felt  by  the  public  as  a  very  great  advantage,  as  saving  infinite  trouble ;  and 
also  it  will  be  a  very  great  saving  of  trouble  to  the  officials  of  the  Post  Office.  Now 
I  come  to  the  last  point,  which  relates  to  foreign  and  Colonial  letters.  I  am  afraid 
I  have  nothing  to  say  which  will  satisfy  my  hon.  friend  the  member  for  Canterbury 
(Mr.  Henniker  Heaton).  It  must  be  remembered  that  the  paying  postal  service  is 
the  home  postal  service,  and  even  now  foreign  letters  are  carried  at  a  loss.  It  is 
proposed  that  in  future  there  shall  be  a  change  made  in  the  postage  of  foreign  and 
Colonial  letters,  which  now  amounts  to  2|d.  per  half  ounce.  The  amount  fixed  for 
the  postage  under  the  rules  of  the  Postal  Union  is  25  centimes,  and  2|d.  was,  for 
some  mysterious  reason,  adopted  by  our  postal  authorities  as  the  nearest  expression 
in  English  coinage  to  25  centimes,  the  result  being  that  at  present  we  have  the 
dearest  foreign  postage  of  any  nation  in  the  world.  The  rate  cannot  be  altered 
without  the  assent  of  the  Postal  Union,  which  meets,  I  believe,  next  month  at 
Washington,  and,  at  that  meeting,  our  representative  will  propose  that  the  rate  of 
2|d.  shall  be  reduced  to  2d.,  which  will,  at  any  rate,  place  us  on  an  equality  with 
other  nations.  It  will  take  some  time  to  bring  all  these  changes  into  operation, 
especially  the  last,  which  cannot  be  made  until  January  ist  next  year;  but  I  calculate 
that  the  total  cost  of  them,  assuming  them  to  be  brought  into  operation  as  soon  as 
possible,  will  be  about  ^^366,000  for  the  current  year." 


NEW   SOUTH    WALES— CONTEMPLATED    NEW   ISSUE. 

ROM  Surgeon-Colonel  Williams  we  have  the  following  items,  taken  from 
the  columns  of   the    Sydney   Daily   Telegraph   of   April    12th,  which 
presage  a  new  issue  for  three  denominations : — 

"A    NEW    POSTAGE    STAMP    ISSUE. 

"The  Postmaster-General  has  under  consideration  a  proposal  to  introduce  a 
series  of  new  postage  stamps  in  commemoration  of  the  60th  anniversary  of  the 
Queen's  reign.     One  of  the  suggestions  made  to  Mr.  Cook  was  that  a  series  should 


OCCASIONAL  NOTES.  129 

be  prepared  similar  in  motive  and  execution  to  the  Columbian  issue  of  the  United 
States,  containing  designs  portraying  some  of  the  principal  historical  events  which 
have  marked  the  Victorian  era.  Owing  to  the  want  of  the  complicated  and  expensive 
machinery  necessary  for  the  production  of  this  class  of  work  in  the  Colony,  and  the 
limited  time  at  the  disposal  of  the  Government,  this  suggestion  could  not  be  carried 
out ;  but  it  has  been  definitely  decided  to  mark  the  occasion  by  the  issue  of  three 
stamps  of  the  respective  values  of  id.,  2d.,  and  2^d.,  which  will  supersede  the  stamps 
of  corresponding  denominations  now  current.  The  design  is  to  consist  of  a  portrait 
of  Her  Majesty  the  Queen  in  profile,  enclosed  in  a  frame  of  artistic  but  simple 
construction,  without  any  unnecessary  elaboration  of  ornament.  In  another  column 
an  announcement  is  made,  inviting  competitive  designs,  for  which  a  premium  is 
offered.  Designs  must  be  sent  in  by  noon  on  the  22nd  inst.,  and  as  soon  as  a 
suitable  one  has  been  selected,  the  utmost  expedition  will  be  employed  to  prepare 
the  dies  and  plates,  so  as  to  provide  for  the  issue  of  the  stamps  on  the  22nd  June, 
the  day  of  celebration." 

"  Government  Notice. 

"General  Post  Office, 

"Sydney,  loth  April,  1897. 

"design  for  new  postage  stamps. 

"  Competitive  designs  will  be  received  at  this  office  until  noon  on  Thursday,  the 
22nd  instant,  for  three  new  postage  stamps,  of  id.,  2d.,  and  2^d.  denominations, 
intended  to  be  commemorative  of  the  60th  anniversary  of  Her  Majesty's  reign. 

"  The  designs  must  be  drawn  in  black  and  white  to  a  scale  twice  the  diameter 
of  the  present  id.  postage  stamp,  and  should  contain  a  portrait  of  Her  Majesty 
the  Queen  in  profile,  enclosed  in  a  frame  of  artistic  but  simple  construction,  and 
without  any  unnecessary  elaboration  of  ornament. 

"  The  value  must  be  expressed  in  fairly  prominent  figures,  and  the  inscriptions 
must  be  '  New  South  Wales,'  '  Postage.' 

"A  premium  of  ;^io  ids.  will  be  given  for  the  best  design,  and  ^^3  3s.  for  the 
second  best. 

"The  designs  for  which  premiums  are  given  to  become  the  property  of  the 
Government;    those  that  have  not  obtained  prizes  will  be  returned  to  the  owners. 

"The  designs  are  to  be  addressed  to  the  Acting  Deputy  Postmaster-General, 
General  Post  Office,  Sydney,  from  whom  any  further  information  can  be  obtained. 

"  Each  design  to  be  marked  on  the  right-hand  lower  corner  with  some  distinctive 
sign  or  motto,  and  the  name  and  address  of  the  tenderer  enclosed  in  a  sealed  cover 
marked  with  the  same  sign  or  motto,  to  accompany  the  design,  which  cover  will  not 
be  opened  until  the  selections  have  been  made. 

"Joseph  Cook." 
• 

PHILATELY    AND    FRAUD. 


HE  practical  uses  of  Philately  have  once  more  been  demonstrated,  and 
on  this  occasion  the  postal  authorities  of  Switzerland  have  to  thank 
the  vigilance  and  prompt  action  of  the  Lausanne  Philatelic  Society  for  the 
detection  of  a  serious  misappropriation  of  its  revenue.  The  details,  which 
are  given  in  La  Philatdie  Helvetique,  are  as  follows: — In  1890,  Mons. 
Huttenlocher,  a  member  of  the  Lausanne  Society,  had  occasion  to  send 
several  large  packages  to  the  same  destination,  accompanied  by  the  request 
that  the  stamps  on  the  cover  might  be  returned.  When  these  arrived,  Mons. 
Huttenlocher  discovered  that  they  were  all  in  pieces,  but  joined  together;  he 
then  showed  them  to  the  head  of  the  parcels  despatch  ofifice,  who  instituted 
6sa 


ISO  OCCASIONAL  NOTES. 

an  investigation,  which  revealed,  however,  no  clue  to  the  torn  stamps.  A  con- 
siderable period  later — since  September,  1896 — Mons.  Meystre  had  been  in 
the  habit  of  sending  packages  to  his  son  at  St.  Gall,  and  the  latter  being 
a  collector  desired  to  keep  the  stamps,  but  found  them  to  be  all  in  pieces, 
joined  together  and  stuck  down  to  the  parcels.  This  circumstance  led  him 
to  send  the  stamps  to  his  father  for  an  explanation,  and  by  chance  the  latter 
showed  the  stamps  to  Mons.  Huttenlocher  who,  despite  the  lapse  of  six 
years,  remembered  his  own  experience. 

The  matter  was  referred  to  a  meeting  of  the  Lausanne  Society,  and  Mons. 
Blanchard,  the  president,  undertook  to  submit  the  stamps  to  the  Director  of 
Posts,  where  he  met  the  head  of  the  parcels  despatch  office.  Suspicion 
rested  upon  the  clerk  employed  in  the  office,  by  name  Ruffy,  and  a  close 
watch  was  kept  for  eight  days,  during  which  time  the  addresses  on  some  fifty 
packets  passing  through  Ruffy 's  hands  for  cancellation  were  kept,  and  the 
recipients  requested  to  return  the  covers.  Mons.  de  Reuterskiold  was  called 
as  an  expert,  and  his  report  disclosed  the  fraud  which  for  some  years  had 
been  carried  on.  Ruffy  had  collected  a  quantity  of  cancelled  stamps  of  all 
values,  and  by  removing  those  portions  of  the  stamps  which  had  escaped 
cancellation  he  was  enabled  to  make  an  apparently  perfect  unused  specimen, 
although  the  pieces  when  stuck  on  the  parcels  revealed  to  experienced  eyes 
divers  shades  of  colour  and  irregular  joining.  These  stamps  (or  portions) 
were  applied  to  parcels  received  by  Ruffy  when  alone  in  the  office,  mainly 
between  one  and  two  o'clock  p.m.,  a  heavy  cancellation  being  added  to  hide 
the  jointing,  the  postage  paid  being  appropriated  to  his  own  use.  The 
accused  naturally  had  a  denial  forthcoming,  his  naive  explanation  being  that 
owing  to  nervousness  he  often  tore  the  stamps  when  applying  them  to  the 
parcels  !  An  investigation  of  his  drawers,  however,  revealed  the  truth,  as  also 
some  torn  and  mended  stamps  awaiting  usage.  Ruffy  had  been  in  the 
employ  of  the  department  for  23  years,  and  was  receiving  the  maximum 
salary  (3,300  francs).  He  had  bought  two  estates  for  71,000  francs,  upon 
which  he  had  borrowed  65,000  francs,  of  which  he  had  repaid  5,000,  so  that 
these  estates  brought  in  an  additional  income  (after  payment  of  interest)  of 
1,600  francs.  Mons.  de  Reuterskiold's  report  to  the  Police  Tribunal  proved 
conclusively  the  exact  modus  operandi  of  the  theft,  and  a  sentence  of  six 
months'  imprisonment,  400  francs  fine,  and  20  years'  deprivation  of  civil 
rights  has  been  passed. 

The  representatives  of  Swiss  Philately  should  receive  the  congratulations 
of  the  State,  as  also  of  their  confreres,  for  their  service  both  to  the  one 
and  the  other. 

A  BRITISH  STAMP  DIRECTORY. 
HERE  can  be  little  doubt  as  to  the  value  of  such  a  work,  and  a  laudable 
commencement  has  been  made  by  the  Philatelic  Publishing  Co. 
(Fentham  Road,  Handsworth,  Birmingham).  The  British  Stamp  Directory 
contains  approaching  2000  names  and  addresses  of  "  British  Philatelists," 
though  we  doubted  the  existence  of  so  many  of  that  especial  genus,  but  no 
attempt  has  been  made  at  proper  alphabetical  classification.  The  publishers 
announce  a  speedy  new  edition — in  a  curiosity  of  literature  entitled  Preface — 
and  we  hope  to  see  further  improvements  in  a  useful  undertaking  such  as 
this. 


[       131       ] 


licbietos. 


STANLEY  GIBBONS'   CATALOGUE,   Part   II.,    1897.* 

ITHOUT  any  doubt  the  appearance  of  the  second  part 
of  this  firm's  1897  Catalogue  marks  a  new  epoch  as 
regards  Philately  in  the  country.  We  are  fully  aware 
that  these  catalogues  are  issued  mainly  for  the  benefit 
of  the  publishers  ;  but  when  in  conjunction  herewith 
so  much  new  and  important  matter  is  produced,  the 
commercial  element  is,  in  the  view  of  this  Journal,  entirely  subordinate  to  the 
Philatelic  aspect.  We  have,  therefore,  no  hesitation  in  stating  that,  in 
our  opinion,  Part  II.  of  the  1897  Catalogue,  being  the  lists  of  adhesive  stamps 
of  the  world  other  than  Great  Britain  and  Colonies,  is  not  only  far  and 
away  the  best  and  most  reliable  price  catalogue  extant  of  these  stamps, 
but  that  it  presents  such  an  aggregate  of  solid  and  advanced  knowledge 
as  to  establish  it  a  record  in  the  annals  of  Philately.  They  are  open  secrets 
that,  throughout,  the  aid  of  the  leading  specialists  and  best  connoisseurs  in 
almost  every  country  has  been  secured,  that  recourse  has  been  had  to 
all  the  finest  collections  in  Great  Britain  to  correct  and  supplement  the 
shades  and  details,  and  that  literally  no  expense  or  labour  has  been  spared 
in  the  endeavour  to  present  for  the  first  time  a  Foreign  Catalogue  that  should 
be  on  a  par  with  its  colonial  predecessor. 

The  rising  favour  in  which  many  of  the  South  American  and  European 
countries  are  held  has  induced  in  their  respective  countries  a  closer  and 
more  scientific  examination,  the  result  of  which  has  been  to  almost 
revolutionize  the  preconceived  notions  both  as  to  completeness  and  relative 
rarity.  In  many  instances  this  recent  knowledge  has  been  incorporated 
in  this  Catalogue,  and — to  the  multitude — much  of  the  information  will 
be  a  complete  surprise.  Amongst  such  lists  we  may  briefly  cite  :  Finland, 
Sweden,  Russia  (including  sixty-three  pages  of  fully  illustrated  locals), 
Norway,  France,  Holland,  Transvaal,  etc.  etc.  The  German  and  Italian 
States  are  also  well  brought  up  to  date,  while  Peru  and  the  United  States 
will  be  found  to  include  all  the  latest  reliable  information.  The  new 
illustrations  of  this  latter  are  excellent,  but  it  is  much  to  be  deplored  that  the 
Catalogue  is  disfigured  by  many  indistinct  and  defective  cuts.  The 
surcharges,  however,  as  in  Part  I.,  are  excellently  reproduced  in  actual 
size,  and  in  the  case  of  the  French  Colonies  (a  most  able  and  exhaustive 
list)  will  be  found  of  great  value.  It  is  remarkable  that  in  the  case  of 
the  European  stamps  there  are  hardly  any  surcharges — a  fact  that  may 
account  for  their  increasing  popularity — while  in  the  remaining  countries 
they  are  mainly  and  happily  confined  to  their  respective  colonies.     There 

*  Priced  Calalogue  of  Stamps  of  Foreign  Countries.  Part  II.  1897.  STANLEY  GIBBONS,  Ltd., 
391,  Strand,  London,  W.C. 


132  REVIEWS. 

are  naturally  mistakes — frequently  palpable  ones  referring  to  prices — but 
as  a  whole  the  work  is  very  accurate,  though  some  lists  could  be  improved, 
e.g.,  Portugal,  Belgium,  Roumania,  Turkey,  Servia,  and  others.  The  system  of 
grouping,  introduced  for  the  first  time  in  Messrs.  Gibbons'  Catalogue,  is  much 
to  be  commended,  and  might  even  be  extended  in  future  editions,  such 
as  Scandinavia  and  Northern  Europe,  South-east  Europe,  South  and 
Central  American  States,  etc. 

The  general  production  of  the  book  is  satisfactory ;  the  paper  almost  too 
good,  making  the  work  as  bulky  as  a  Senf's  or  Bright's  General  Catalogue; 
the  binding  is  serviceable  and  attractive;  and  the  printing  throughout  is  clean 
and  sharp.  That  very  important  part — the  prices — hardly  falls  within  our 
province  to  dilate  upon,  but  without  doubt  the  figures  represent  the  prices  at 
which  the  publishers  are  prepared  to  deliver  the  stamps,  which  is  at  least  an 
evidence  of  good  faith.  It  is  so  stated  in  the  Preface,  and  we  have  full 
belief  in  the  correctness  of  the  statement,  however  (literally)  large  the  order 
may  seem !  Many  of  the  prices,  especially  for  stamps  of  countries  hitherto 
little  appreciated,  seem  very  high,  and  it  remains  to  be  seen  how  far  they  are 
market  values. 

The  issue  of  this  Price  List,  embodying  so  great  an  extent  of  fresh 
knowledge,  is  a  distinct  gain  to  the  cause  of  Philately  all  round,  and  we  take 
leave  of  it  by  wishing  its  publishers  the  success  they  so  richly  deserve, 
in  having  been  the  first  to  produce  a  reliable  and  scientific  Catalogue  of  the 
"  Foreign  "  Stamps  of  the  world. 

BRIGHT'S   CATALOGUE   FOR    1897.* 

Many  noticeable  alterations  and  improvements  have  been  efifected  in  this 
work  since  its  initial  venture.  The  most  important  is  the  division  into  two 
portions:  (i)  Adhesives  and  (2)  Envelopes,  Cards,  etc.,  but  the  general 
additions  are  so  numerous  that  lOO  pages  have  been  added  to  the  bulk. 
The  publishers  modestly  state  in  the  Preface  that  "  no  direct  profit  is  made 
in  the  sale  of  this  Catalogue,"  and  when  it  is  considered  that  over  750  pages 
of  excellently  printed  matter,  on  really  good  paper,  and  in  a  suitable  binding, 
is  sold  retail  for  the  conventional  half-crown,  the  statement  can  readily  be 
taken  without  any  pinch  of  salt.  The  illustrations  are  necessarily  very 
uneven,  but  the  latest  additions  denote  a  great  improvement. 

Messrs.  Bright  &  Son  have  indeed  shown  a  spirit  of  enterprise  in  the 
issue  of  this  Catalogue,  under  obvious  disadvantages,  which  we  trust  will 
meet  its  due  reward,  as  intimated  by  them,  in  the  increase  of  their  business. 
Under  all  the  circumstances  the  Catalogue  reflects  great  credit  on  the 
publishers :  in  most  respects  it  is  on  a  par  with  the  latter-day  Price  List 
evolution,  and  it  should  certainly  be  welcomed  by  every  collector.  We 
consider  its  literary  merit  as  a  better  "  guide  to  collectors  "  (^pace  Preface) 
than  its  pecuniary  aspect.  The  practice  of  pricing  everything,  or  nearly  so, 
as  in  this  case,  has  often  been  inveighed  against  in  this  Journal,  and  must 
inevitably  drive  the  compiler — unless  he  has  all  the  stamps  priced — into 

*  Bright  &  Son's  ABC  Descriptive  Priced  Catalogue  of  the  IVorld's  Postage  Stamps.  Second 
Edition,  1897.     The  Arcade,  Bournemouth. 


REVIEWS.  133 

many  palpably  erroneous  estimates.  A  priced  Catalogue  should  be  an  index 
of  what  the  publishers  have  to  dispose  of,  otherwise,  from  a  purchaser's  point  of 
view,  it  seems  to  us  imaginary  and  delusive. 

It  is  not  our  province  to  especially  point  out  trivial  errors,  but  we  think 
that  there  is  room  for  improvement  in  the  next  edition  in  some  countries, 
such  as  many  European  States,  New  Zealand,  New  South  Wales  (why  omit 
"no  CREVIT"  and  insert  "  WAEKS,"  the  former  being  a  far  more  important 
error  ?).  Per  contra  many  lists  are  evidently  the  work  of  able  hands,  such  as 
Portugal,  Transvaal,  Roumania,  Greece,  and  the  Colonies  generally.  The 
grouping  together,  according  to  type,  of  Great  Britain,  South  Australia  (the 
latter  excellent,  but  why  price  practically  all  the  lettered  varieties  i*)  and 
Victoria,  has  much  to  commend  it  on  the  ground  of  simplicity.  Messrs. 
Bright  &  Son  have  distinctly  "  gone  one  better  "  this  time,  and  we  heartily 
wish  them  a  wide  sale  as  a  reward  for  their  plucky  enterprise. 

J.  M.  BARTEL  AND  Co.'s  CATALOGUE  OF  STAMPED 

ENVELOPES,  U.S.* 

We  have  pleasure  in  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  a  most  valuable  and 
succinct  list  of  the  envelopes  of  the  United  States  brought  fully  up  to  the 
current  year,  and  embodying  all  the  knowledge  of  the  best  scientists  hereon. 
No  less  than  1864  varieties  are  listed  ;  some  idea  hence  may  be  gleaned  of 
the  difficult  task  imposed  in  the  collection  of  these  envelopes.  Small  wonder 
that  the  Preface  claims  "  front  rank  in  the  matter  of  embossed  postal  paper 
for  the  U.S.  Government."  It  has,  in  our  humble  opinion,  also  taken  front 
rank  in  discouraging  the  collection  of  entire  envelopes  throughout  the  world. 
Variation  in  the  dies  and  watermarks,  of  course,  have  full  claim  on  the  earnest 
collector's  attention,  but  an  endless  succession  of  "knives"  (or  shapes,  as  the 
new  work  now  correctly  announces),  sizes,  pattes,  and  many-hued 
papers  has,  in  the  judgment  of  many,  a  greater  affinity  to  stationery  than 
Philately.  A  collection  of  United  States  envelopes,  confined  practically  to 
variation  of  the  dies  and  watermarks,  would  seem  to  present  far  more 
Philately  than  all  the  cream,  coffee,  amber,  or  manilla  note  paper  in  the 
world.  There  can,  however,  be  no  doubt  of  the  excellence  of  Messrs. 
Bartel's  work,  and  that  it  will  be  of  great  service  to  all  those  who  collect 
U.S.  envelopes — the  appearance  of  an  up-to-date  list  having  really  "  filled  a 
long-felt  want." 

*  First  complete  Catalogue  and  Reference  List  of  the  Stamped  Envelopes,  Wrappers,  and  Letter 
Sheets  regularly  issued  by  the  United  States,  1853- 1 897.  J.  M.  Bartel  &  Co.,  439,  Ninth  Street, 
N.W^.,  Washington,  D.C.,  U.S. 


<&-^^^M^^^c^^ 


[      i34      ] 


Mdxs  Issues. 


NOTES    OF    NEW,    AND    VARIATIONS  OF   CURRENT,    ISSUES.' 
(Varieties  of  Obsolete  Stamps,  and  Discoveries,  will  be  found  under  "Philatelic  Notes.") 

IVe  do  not  profess  to  chronicle  everything,  but,  with  the  kind  help  of  correspondents,  are  desirous  that 
all  the  important  novelties  way  be  included.  Speculative  stamps— i.e.  those  not  really  required  for 
postal  purposes— will  be  considered  on  their  merits,  and  fubilee  issues  will  not  be  chronicled. 

Members  of  the  London  Philatelic  Society,  and  other  readers  generally,  are  invited  to  co-operate  with  us 
in  making  the  columns  as  interesting  as  possible.  Our  foreign  readers  can  especially  help  us  in 
this  direction,  by  sendijig  copies  of  any  official  documents  relative  to  changes  in  the  current  issues, 
or  early  intimation  of  any  new  issue,  accompanied,  when  possible,  by  a  specimen  ;  such  information 
will  be  duly  credited  to  the  correspondent,  and,  if  desired,  the  specimen  promptly  returned. 
Address:  Editor  "London  Philatelist,"  Effingham  House,  Arundel  Street,  Strand, 
London,  W.C. 


BRITISH  EMPIRE. 
British  Bechuanaland.— In  sending 
us  a  specimen  of  the  current  ^d.  Cape  of 
Good  Hope  stamp,  surcharged  "  British " 
"  Bechuanaland,"  Messrs.  Whitfield  King  & 
Co.  write  :  "  When  this  Colony  was  annexed 
to  the  Cape  the  remaining  stock  of  stamps 
was  sent  to  Cape  Town.  They  have  now 
been  brought  again  into  use,  not  in  B.B.,  but 
in  the  Bechuanaland  Protectorate,  which  is 
the  country  to  the  north  of  Bechuanaland, 
extending  to  the  British  South  Africa  Com- 
pany's boundary."  These,  it  appears,  are 
now  entirely  exhausted ;  hence  the  Cape 
stamps  are  being  surcharged,  the  id.  having 
appeared  as  above. 

Adhisive.     \i.,  green  ;  black  surcharge. 

Canada. — The  \  cent  stamp  has  been 
printed  on  a  heavier  paper.  We  regret  to 
hear  that  a  3  cent  Commemorative  stamp 
is  contemplated. 

Adhesive.   J  cent,  black  ;  thick  paper. 

Native  Indian  States  —  Gwalior.— 
From  a  block  of  the  \  anna  stamps  for 
official  use,  sent  by  Messrs.  Whitfield  King 
&  Co.  for  our  inspection,  we  learn  that  there 
is  an  error  once  on  each  sheet  of  240 
stamps,  the  first  stamp  in  the  bottom  row 
but  one  having  the  word  "Service"  (which 
is  printed  in  native  characters  "Servis") 
spelt  "  Sersiv."  This  error  our  corre- 
spondents have  found  on  the  values  \,  i,  2, 
4,  and  8  annas  ;  but  the  PJiilatelic  Journal 
of  Indict  adds  the  i  rupee  value  with  a 
similar  misprint. 

Mauritius.— A  card  of  2  cents  value  is 
in  use,  bearing  a  similar  stamp  to  the  3  cents 
adhesive,  showing  the  Arms  of  the  Colony. 

Post  Card.     2  cents  ;  btown  on  l)uff. 


Niger  Coast  Protectorate.— The  id. 
label  has  been  issued  on  paper  watermarked 
Crown  CA. 

Adhesive,     id.,  vermilion;  wmk.  Cr.  CA. 

Queensland.— The  M.  J.  announces  the 
2^d.  adhesive  with  head  on  white  ground,  no 
other  alteration  having  taken  place. 

Adhesive.     2jd.,  rose  ;  perf.  13. 

Sierra  Leone.— We  give  an  illustration 
of  one  of  the  recent  surcharges  on  the  fiscal 
stamps.  The  Philatelic 
Record  adds  the  one 
shilling  label,  having 
the  same  surcharge,  with 
the  same  variations 
of  type  (three  varie- 
ties). The  varieties  are 
as  follows  :  (1)  Large, 
heavy  "2,"  with  a 
straight  foot ;  (2)  a 
smaller  and  lighter 
numeral,  with  a  straight 
foot ;  (3)  "  2  "  with  a  curly  foot ;  and  in  the 
pane  of  30  stamps  the  varieties  occur  as 
follows  : — 

I      I      1     I     I 
I      I      I      I     I 

X        ">        'y        "t        ^ 
J        -        ^        -        J 

Thus  there  are  of  each  value 
I.  on  the  sheet,  five  of  Type  II.,  and  three  of 
Type  III. 

It  appears  that  there  is  a  further  variety 
which  occurs  on  all  the  values,  in  which 
Ihe  fractional  figures  have  two  types  of  "  2," 
one  with  a  straight  and  the  other  with  a 
curly  foot.  There  are  only  t\\  o  of  the  latter 
variety  in  a  sheet  of  60  stamps,  and  this 
might  be  called  Type  IV. 

Adhesive,     s^d.  on  i  -,  green  and  lilac  ;  joiir  types. 


I       I 
I       I 

I       2 


of  Type 


,V£:iV  /SSl/ES. 


'35 


South  Australia. — The  iT/.y. announces 
the  issue  of  the  2  shillings  adhesive,  with  the 
surcharge  "O  S"  in  the  long  narrow  capitals, 
replacing  the  so-called  block  type. 

Service  Adhesive.     2  shillings,  crimson. 

Uganda. — We  have  received  specimens 
of  another  issue  for  this  territory,  the  postal 
arrangements  in  which  have  met  with  such 
success  that  the  missionaries'  type-writer  has 
been  supplanted  by  the  Government  Printing 
Press  as  a  means  of  producing  the  stamps. 
They  are  now  type-set,  and  have  the  name 
"UGANDA"  at  the  top  and  "protectorate" 
at  foot ;  large  letters  "  V  R  "  in  the  centre, 
separated  by  an  asterisk  or  a  dagger,  and 
with  an  asterisk  at  each  side  of  them  ;  with 
"  POSTAGE  "  above  the  "  V  R,"  and  the 
value  (I  ANNA,  2,  3,  4  or  8  ANNAS,  or 
ONE  RUPEE)  below.  The  i  a.  has  a 
dagger,  thus  "  t,"  between  the  letters,  the 
2  a.  and  3  a.  an  inverted  dagger,  "4.,"  the 
4  a.  and  8  a.  a  double  dagger,  "  |,"  and  the 
I  rupee,  an  asterisk  at  the  foot  of  the  letters. 
The  asterisks  at  the  sides  are  also  ingeni- 
ously varied  in  position,  being  at  the  foot  of 
the  letters  in  the  i  a.,  3  a.,  and  i  rupee,  at 
the  top  in  the  2  a.,  at  the  upper  right  and 
lower  left  in  the  4  a.,  and  at  the  upper  left 
and  lower  right  in  the  8  a. 

Adiiesives.     i  a.,  black  on  white  wove. 

2  3-  >■  ., 

3  3*  >J  n 

4  ^*  »t  n 

8  a.  ,,  {oh  thin  yellowish  zuove^ 

1  r.  ,,  \  ruled  ivith/aint  lines. 

The  specimens  we  have  seen  have  a  large 
letter  "  L"  struck  upon  them,  in  black,  in- 
dicating local  use  ;  but  we  understand  that 
there  are  also  stamps  without  the  "L,"  for 
use  on  letters  to  the  coast.  —  Monthly 
Jotinial. 

EUROPE, 

Finland. — An  error  has  recently  been 
discovered,  the  3^  roubles  stamp  having 
been  printed  in  the  colours  of  the  7  roubles. 
It  is  gratifying  to  learn  that  on  discovery 
the  remaining  stock  was  destroyed. 

Adhesive.     Sj  roubles,  black  and  yellow,  error. 

San  Marino.— We  illustrate,  and  have 
received  from  Messrs.  Whitfield  King  & 
Co.,  a  set  of  Unpaid  Letter  stamps.  The 
values  are  as  follows :  Wmk.,  a  Crown  ; 
perf.  14. 

Unpaid  Letter  Statit/>s. 

c.    5,  green  and  chocolale. 

c.  10       ,,  ,, 

c-  30       .,  ,, 

c-  50       „ 

c.  60       ,,  ,, 

lira    I,  dull  rose  ,, 

lire    5       ,, 
lire  10       ,,  ,, 


AMERICA. 
Bolivia.— The  A.  J.  of  Ph.  illustrates 
three  stamps,  which  introduce  a  new  issue 
of  seven  values.  The  stamps  are  of  upright 
rectangular  shape,  and  bear  in  the  centre 
a  portrait,  that  on  the  2  c.  being  named 
Linares,  10  c.  Monteguado,  and  the  20  c. 
J.  Ballivian.  For  the  present  we  must 
confess  to  ignorance  as  to  the  identity  of 
these  worthies,  but  shall  no  doubt  be 
enlightened  when  other  values  appear. 
The  stamps  are  perforated  12. 

Adhesives.       2  c,  red. 

10  c,  brown-violet. 

20  c,  lake  and  (centre)  black. 

Colombian  Republic. — A  lo  centavos 
stamp  similar  in  design  to  the  current  5  c. 
is  announced. 

Adhesive.     lo  c,  brown  on  rose. 

Mexico. — The  M.  J.  announces  an  error 
— the  12  c.  printed  in  the  colour  of  the  3  c, 
the  impression  being  on  the  old  paper  with 
watermark  "CORREOS  E.U.M.,"  the  copies 
being  pin-perf  The  same  contemporary 
also  chronicles  the  $5  and  $io  adhesives 
with  watermark  "R  m";  perf  12. 

Adhesives.     20  c,  chestnut ;  error. 

$5,  vermilion;  wmk.  "r.m." 
$10,  deep  blue        ,,       ,, 

OTHER  COUNTRIES. 

China. — As  was  to  be  expected,  the  sur- 
charging business  has  proved  remunerative, 
hence  it  has  been  continued  ad  tiaiiseam. 
Messrs.  Whitfield  King  &  Co.  send  us  a  full 
set,  twenty-seven  in  number.  The  second 
varieties  are  formed  by  a  variation  from  the 
colour  of  the  previous  stamps,  the  type  of 
the  surcharge  also  being  larger.  There  is 
in  addition  a  further  use  of  the  3  c. 
Revenue  stamp,  this  value  being  sur- 
charged I  c,  2  c,  and  4  c.  The  remain- 
ders of  the  1886  issue  have  also  been 
raked  out,  and  duly  besmeared  to  form  i,  2, 
and  5  cent  stamps.  Writing  to  the  IVeekly 
Stamp  News,  a  correspondent  describes 
these  second  printings  as  "largely  specula- 
tive," and  this  description  would  appear  to 
be  well  merited.  Annexed  are  illustrations 
of  the  first  surcharges  described  on  page 
75  :— 


''iamrrrnupps' 


ji.n  imrJLPJiPjLrLrinji  njuinMiru  n  n 


UUUUUUUmJlAJ""LJU"Ln  _ 


~s\i.i  ^j  u  Lf  mrv  LTjTJtnnjui-rurLn 


136 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


■  rM-~a-\riri  n  n  nn  Ti 


Congo  Free  State.— A  sheet  of  the 
lo  c.  stamp  has  escaped  the  printing  house 
of  Messrs.  Waterlow  &  Sons  with  the  centre 
itiverted.  The  sheet  in  question  was  sold 
at  face  value  in  the  ordinary  course  of  post, 
and  the  purchaser  is  to  be  congratulated  ! 

Adhesive.     lo  c. ,  greenish  blue  and  black;  error. 


Egypt.  —  Soudan. — We  illustrate  a  sur- 
charge which  has  been  applied  to  the  i,  3, 
and  5  mils,  and  i  piastre  stamps  for  use  in 
the  Post  Office  between  Wadi-Halfa  and  the 
Egyptian  frontier. 

Adiiesives.     i  mil.,  brown  ;  black  surcharge. 
3    „    yellow  „ 

5    ,,    carmine  „ 

I  piastre,  ultramarine  ,, 


Hl^tlatdic  Snmlics'  Settings. 


THE  PHILATELIC  SOCIETY,   LONDON. 


Honorary  Freside>ii—H.R.H.  The  Duke  of  Saxe-Coburg  and  Gotha,  K.G.,  &c. 

Council  for  the  Year  1895  96 : 

FresideHt—U.R.U.  The  Duke  of  York,  K.G. 
Vice-President — M.  P.  Castle. 


Hon.  Secretary — ^J. 
Hon.    Treasurer- 
E.  D.  Bacon. 
R.  Ehrenbach. 


A.  Tilleard. 
-C.  N.  Biggs. 


E.  B.  Evans. 
D.  Garth. 


Hon.  Assistant  Secretary — R.  Pearce. 
Librarian — T.   Maycock. 

I         T.  Wickham  Jones. 
H.  R.  Oldfield. 


The  twenty-third  meeting  of  the  season 
1896-97  was  held  at  Effingham  House  on 
Friday,  the  9th  April,  at  7.45  p.m.,  the 
members  in  attendance  being  :  Messrs.  E. 
D.  Bacon,  R.  Ehrenbach,  H.  R.  Oldfield,  R. 
Meyer,  R.  Frentzel,  A.  R.  Barrett,  T.  H.  R. 
Crowle,  C.  McNaughtan,  E.  J.  Nankivell, 
R.  Pearce,  C.  W.  Viner,  B.  D.  Knox,  and 
J.  A.  Tilleard. 

In  the  absence  of  the  Vice-President, 
the  chair  was  taken  by  Mr.  Bacon,  and 
the  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read 
and  confirmed. 

The  receipt  from  the  publishers  of  Vol.  2 
of  The  Philatelic  World  was  directed  to  be 
acknowledged  with  thanks. 

Mr.  H.  R.  Oldfield  then  gave  a  display  of, 
and  read  some  notes  on  the  envelopes  and 
wrappers  of  Switzerland,  of  which  he  has  a 
very  complete  collection.  He  followed  this 
with  an  exhibition  of  the  Cantonal  stamps, 
and  those  of  the  first  federal  issue  of  the 
same  country.  Mr.  Oldfield  has  an  immense 
number  of  specimens  of  the  latter  issue, 
as  he  collects  all  the  varieties  of  postmark. 


and  his  interesting  remarks  concerning  the 
use  and  scarcity  of  many  of  the  obliterations 
found  on  these  stamps  were  much  appre- 
ciated by  the  members  present.  On  the 
motion  of  Mr.  E.  D.  Bacon,  seconded  by 
Dr.  C.  W.  Viner,  a  cordial  vote  of  thanks 
to  Mr.  Oldfield  for  his  display  was  passed. 


The  twenty-fourth  meeting  was  held  at 
Effingham  House  on  Friday,  the  30th  April, 
at  7.45  p.m.,  the  members  in  attendance 
being  :  Messrs.  M.  P.  Castle,  E.  D.  Bacon, 
T.  Wickham  Jones,  R.  Meyer,  R.  Frentzel, 
R.  T.  de  Cartaret,  C  McNaughtan,  Gordon 
Smith,  R.  Pearce,  W.  N.  Usher,  J.  A. 
Tilleard,  A.  R.  Barrett,  J.  C.  Potter,  W.  R. 
Palmer,  and  B.  D.  Knox.  One  visitor  also 
was  present. 

The  chair  was  taken  by  the  Vice-President, 
and  the  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were 
read  and  confirmed. 

The  Secretary  read  a  letter  from  Mr. 
Hilckes  stating  that  be  had  received  a 
communication  from  a  correspondent  con- 
nected with  the  Post  Office  in  Natal,  setting 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


137 


at  rest  the  question  whether  the  so-called 
error  "Ealfpenny"  on  the  6d.  Natal  was 
correctly  described  as  an  error,  or  was  only 
a  variety  due  to  an  imperfect  type.  In  proof 
of  the  latter  being  the  correct  view,  the 
identical  piece  of  type  employed  was  en- 
closed, and  proved  to  be  only  a  battered 
"  H."  The  Secretary  was  directed  to  thank 
Mr.  Hilckes  for  his  interesting  information, 
and  for  kindly  presenting  the  piece  of  type 
in  question  to  the  Society  for  preservation. 

The  Treasurer  presented  his  balance-sheet 
for  the  financial  year,  and  on  the  motion  of 
Mr.  Bacon,  seconded  by  Mr.  Wickham 
Jones,  Messrs.  R.  Pearce  and  A.  W. 
Chambers  were  appointed  auditors  to  audit 
the  accounts  to  the  annual  general  meeting. 

Mr.  R.  Meyer  then  read  a  short  paper  on 
the  "Stamps  of  Lagos,"  passing  round  in 
illustration  of  his  observations  his  collection 
of  the  stamps  under  consideration,  in  which 
all  the  varieties  were  represented — in  most 
cases  both  in  unused  and  used  conditions. 
On  the  motion  of  Mr.  Gordon  Smith, 
seconded  by  Mr.  Castle,  the  hearty  thanks 
of  the  meeting  were  voted  to  Mr.  Meyer  for 
his  interesting  paper,  and  for  his  kindness  in 
affording  the  members  present  an  oppor- 
tunity of  inspecting  his  collection. 

In  reference  to  the  prizes  offered  by  the 
Society  at  the  forthcoming  exhibition,  it  was 
decided  that  these  should  consist  of  two 
gold  and  four  silver  medals. 


The  twenty-fifth  meeting  was  held  at  Effing- 
ham House  on  Friday,  the  7th  May,  at 
7.45  p.m.  The  members  in  attendance  were : 
Messrs.  M.  P.  Castle,  L.  L.  R.  Hausberg, 
E.  D.  Bacon,  H.  R.  Oldfield,  R.  Ehrenbach, 
R.  Meyer,  R.  Frentzel,  W.  Silk,  W.  R. 
Palmer,  C.  N.  Biggs,  T.  Maycock,  A.  R. 
Barrett,  C.  McNaughtan,  R.  Pearce,  Gordon 
Smith,  B.  D.  Knox,  and  J.  A.  Tilleard. 

The  chair  being  taken  by  the  Vice- 
President,  the  minutes  of  the  last  meeting 
were  read  and  confirmed. 

The  special  business  announced  in  the 
notice  convening  the  meeting  was  unavoid- 
ably postponed  until  the  14th  instant,  and 
the  evening  was  occupied  with  the  inspec- 
tion of  stamps  brought  by  various  members 
to  the  meeting. 

The  twenty-sixth  meeting  was  held  at  Effing- 
ham House  on  Friday,  the  14th  May,  at 
7.45  p.m.  The  members  present  were : 
Messrs.    M.     P.    Castle,    H.    R.    Oldfield, 


E.  D.  Bacon,  R.  Ehrenbach,  R.  Meyer,  R. 
Frentzel,  A.  R.  Barrett,  T.  H.  R.  Crowle, 
O.  Pfenninger,  W.  Silk,  T.  Maycock,  F. 
Ransom,  C.  McNaughtan,  R.  Pearce,  Gordon 
Smith,  F.  E.  Owen,  L.  L.  R.  Hausberg,  B.  D. 
Knox,  T.  W.  Hall,  H.  Hetley,  E.  J.  Nankivell, 
and  J.  A.  Tilleard. 

The  chair  was  taken  by  the  Vice-President, 
and  the  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were 
read  and  confirmed. 

The  Secretary  reported  the  receipt  from 
Messrs.  Bright  and  Son,  for  the  library,  of 
a  copy  of  their  new  Catalogue,  which  was 
directed  to  be  acknowledged  with  thanks. 

Mr.  Castle  read  a  paper  on  the  "  Stamps  of 
Grenada,"  compiled  by  Dr.  R.  Stanley  Taylor, 
in  which,  after  a  reference  to  the  previously 
published  information  on  the  subject,  the 
various  issues  were  described  in  detail, 
special  attention  being  drawn  to  the 
question  of  paper,  perforations,  the  sizes  of 
the  sheets,  the  differences  in  the  star  water- 
mark, and  the  varieties  to  be  found  in  the 
surcharged  stamps.  The  whole  subject  was 
exhaustively  treated,  and  the  paper  was 
illustrated  by  Dr.  Taylor's  fine  unused  and 
used  collections  of  the  stamps  under  con- 
sideration. 

On  the  motion  of  Mr.  Tilleard,  seconded 
by  Mr.  Bacon,  the  hearty  thanks  of  the 
meeting  were  voted  to  Dr.  Taylor  for  his 
interesting  paper,  which  will  be  published 
in  the  London  Philatelist. 

Mr.  Oldfield  then  read  a  paper  on  the 
First  Issue  of  the  Stamps  of  Bolivia.  In 
this  he  described  in  detail  the  numerous 
retouches  of  the  plates,  giving  the  leading 
characteristics  by  which  each  may  be  readily 
distinguished,  and  calling  attention  to  the 
prominent  varieties.  The  whole  subject  was 
minutely  dealt  with  at  considerable  length, 
and  the  paper  will  be  found  to  contain  much 
novel  and  valuable  information.  Mr.  Old- 
field  showed,  in  illustration  of  his  paper,  a 
very  fine  selection  of  stamps  from  his  col- 
lection, including  several  entire  sheets  of 
most  of  the  plates,  and  each  member  was 
supplied  with  a  series  of  autotypes  to 
enable  him  to  follow  the  reading,  these 
having  been  provided  for  the  purpose  of 
illustrations  in  the  London  Philatelist  when 
the  paper  is  published.  Mr.  Castle  moved  a 
cordial  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Oldfield  for  his 
most  important  and  interesting  paper,  and 
the  motion  having  been  seconded  by  Mr. 
Bacon,  was  put  to  the  meeting  and  carried 
unanimously. 


138 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


MANCHESTER  PHILATELIC  SOCIETY. 


President — W.  Dorning  Becktox. 
Hon.  Sec. — A.  H.  Harrison. 


The  fourteenth  meeting  of  the  session  was 
held  at  the  Grand  Hotel  on  Wednesday, 
April  14th,  1897. 

The  President  in  the  chair,  supported  by 
ten  members. 

In  the  absence  of  the  Hon.  Secretary 
through  illness,  the  Assistant  Hon.  Secretary 
read  the  minutes,  which  were  then  con- 
firmed. 

The  paper  of  the  evening  was  read  by 
Mr.  G.  B.  Duerst  on  "The  Stamps  of 
Parma."  He  stated  that  the  postal  issue  of 
this  State  was  the  outcome  of  a  convention 
concluded  between  Austria  and  Parma  in 
1850,  the  first  issue  being  in  June,  1852, 
engraved  by  Uomino  Pintelli ;  it  consisted 
of  five  values— 5,  10,  15,  25,  and  40 
centesimi.  In  1857  a  new  design  was 
approved  of,  and  the  new  stamps  made 
their  appearance  as  soon  as  the  old  stock 
was  used  up.  This  design  was  engraved  by 
Paolo  Formenti.  A  newspaper  stamp  of 
the  value  of  9  centesimi  was  issued  on 
February  ist,  1853,  and  another  on  April  ist, 


1853.  On  November  ist,  1857,  the  rate  on 
newspapers  was  reduced  from  9  to  6 
centesimi ;  a  fresh  stamp  was  issued,  design 
as  last,  only  value  altered. 

On  July  9th,  1859,  the  Bourbon  rule  came 
forcibly  to  an  end,  and  the  Italian  Govern- 
ment decided  to  issue  their  own  Sardinian 
stamps  at  least,  Mr.  Moens  says,  and  adds 
that  only  a  very  small  quantity  were  for- 
warded from  Turin.  These  stamps  were 
only  in  use  from  July  25th  to  the  end  of 
August,  1859,  and  can  only  be  told  by  the 
postmarks. 

In  September,  1859,  a  new  issue  was 
brought  out  for  Parma ;  they  were,  however, 
only  in  use  for  about  three  months,  the 
Sardinian  stamps  being  again  brought  into 
issue. 

Mr.  Petri  showed  a  number  of  the  stamps 
of  Parma,  all  of  which  were  fine  copies,  and 
on  the  original  letter  sheets. 
C.   H.  COOTE, 

Assistajii  Hon.  Secretary. 

HOLMEFIELD,    SaLE,    NEAR  MANCHESTER. 


THE    PHILATELIC    SOCIETY,    NEW    YORK, 

351,  Fourth  Avenue. 


Founded  January  23,  1891 ;  Incorporated  February  i,  1892. 


/'r«/a'<f«/— Charles  Gregory.  I  Ti-easurer — Henry  Clotz. 

Vice-President—].  M.  Andreini.  I        Secretary — Frederick  Augustus  Nast. 

Librarian — R.  W.  QuiGLEY. 


The  regular  monthly  meeting  was  held 
March  21st.  President  Gregory  in  the 
chair.  The  minutes  of  the  preceding  meet- 
ing were  read  and  amended  by  correcting 
clerical  errors. 

Mr.  Olney,  President  of  the  A.  P.  A.,  was 
a  welcome  visitor,  but  was  unable  to  remain 
during  the  entire  session  as  he  desired  to 
attend  the  stamp  auction  held  the  same 
evening. 

After  the  transaction  of  routine  business 
the  Society  devoted  itself  to  the  study  of 
the   stamps   of  the  U.S.  of  Colombia  and 


its  constituent  States.  The  basis  of  the 
discussions  were  the  collections  of  Messrs. 
Andreini,  Gregory,  Lehman,  and  Thorne, 
all  of  whom  have  very  complete  collections 
of  this  interesting  countr)'.  Mr.  J.  W.  Scott 
also  exhibited  some  rarities  of  his  own,  and 
also  a  number  of  interesting  stamps  owned 
by  Mr.  Gomez. 

Practically  everything  known  was  ex- 
hibited, including  minute  varieties  and 
shades.  Among  the  uncatalogued  stamps 
may  be  mentioned  the  following  from  Mr. 
Thome's  collection  : — 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


■39 


1883,  U.S.  of  Colombia,  pair  of  5  cent.,  pale 
blue,  part  perforated. 

1881,  U.S.  of  Colombia,  5  cent.,  used,  pale 
blue  on  face,  and  on  the  reverse  side 
a  5  cent.,  dark  blue,  printed  upside 
down  with  reference  to  the  face. 

1883,  Antioquia,  10  cent.,  scarlet,  tetc-beche. 

1864,  U.S.  of  Colombia,  S  cent,  orange, 
tete-beche . 

1883,  Cundinamarca,  5  cent.,  blue,  unused 
original,  tcte-bechc. 

The  following   from   Mr.    Lehman's    col- 
lection : — 
1873,  Antioquia,  2^  cent,  on  pel  tire  paper. 

The  following  from  Mr.  Gomez's  collec- 
tion : — 
1 89 1,  fiscal  stamp,  20  cent.,  black  on  yellow 

paper,  postally  used. 
1889,  fiscal  stamp,  20  cent.,  orange,  postally 

used. 
1 88 1,  5  cent.,  strip  of  six,  showing  watermark 

"lacroix  freres." 
1883,  2  cent.,  red  on  rose,  very  small  "DK 

l,OS  "  in  inscription. 
1883,  10  cent.,  orange  on  yellow,  large  "DE 

LOS"  in  inscription. 


It  was  also  demonstrated  that  the  2  cent., 
red  on  yellow,  is  simply  turned  by  the  colour 
of  the  paper  fading ;  any  specimen  on  the 
rose  paper  will  turn  to  yellow  if  exposed  to 
the  sun  for  a  few  days. 

The  following  resolution  was  adopted  by 
unanimous  vote : — 

Resolved.  The  members  of  the  Philatelic 
Society,  New  York,  regret  to  learn  of  the 
untimely  and  unexpected  death  of  John 
Kerr  Tiffany,  one  of  the  founders  of  this 
Society,  and  for  many  years  President  of 
the  A.  P.  A.  Through  his  death  we  lose 
an  old  friend,  and  one  of  our  best  known 
American  Philatelists,  to  whose  labours  all 
collectors  are  deeply  indebted. 

The  subject  for  the  Society's  next  meeting 
is  "The  Stamps  of  Greece,"  and  Mr.  Lynde 
will  open  the  discussion  by  a  paper  on  the 
subject. 

Adjournment  taken  at  10.30  p.m. 

Frederick  A.  Nast,  Secretary. 

[We  regret  that  some  of  the  recent 
minutes  of  the  N.  Y.  P.  S.  have  failed  to 
reach  us. — Ed.] 


PLYMOUTH    PHILATELIC    SOCIETY. 


President— Ckvtw^  G.  H.  W.  Stockdale,  R.E. 
Treasurer  and  Hon.  Secretary—^.  J.  W.   Miller. 


The  twelfth  meeting  of  the  sixth  session 
of  the  Society  was  held  at  No.  9^,  Princess 
Square,  on  Wednesday,  March  loth,  1897, 
at  7.30  p.m. 

The  President  (Major  Stockdale,  R.E.)  in 
the  chair,  supported  by  seven  members  and 
one  visitor. 

The  minutes  of  last  meeting  were  read 
and  confirmed,  and  the  following  candidates 
for  membership  were  balloted  for  and  duly 
elected  :  Miss  C.  L.  White,  Mannamead, 
Plymouth;  Dr.  L.  F.  Houghton,  East  Looe. 

The  subject  of  study,  "  The  Stamps  of 
Barbados,"  was  introduced  by  the  Vice- 
President  (Mr.  R.  T.  Stevens),  being  a  con- 
tinuation of  his  remarks  from  last  meeting. 
He  dealt  with  the  stamps  from  Issue  VIII. 
to  the  current  issue,  as  comprised  in  the 
handbook  published  by  Messrs.  Bacon  and 
Napier.  His  remarks  were  illustrated  by 
the  exhibition  of  his  stamps  of  the  colony, 
arranged  in  accordance  with  the  handbook, 
which    showed    very    clearly    the    different 


perforations,  and  also  contained  some  very 
unusual  shades  of  colour.  He  pointed  out 
a  peculiarity  in  the  stamps  under  notice, 
which  was  not  found  in  the  stamps  of  any 
other  colony,  viz.,  that  they  were  first  per- 
forated with  a  gauge  of  14,  followed  by  I2|, 
and  then  again  to  the  gauge  of  14.  At  the 
close  of  his  interesting  remarks,  he  pointed 
out  that  the  colony  of  Barbados  enjoyed  the 
proud  distinction  of  being  the  first  to  intro- 
duce a  ^d.  rate  of  postage,  and  that  was 
further  increased  in  1896  by  the  introduction 
of  a  jd.  rate.  A  most  interesting  discussion 
followed,  in  the  course  of  which  Mr.  Cocks 
informed  the  members  that  the  current  8d. 
was  found  with  the  value  printed  in  two 
very  distinct  shades  of  ultramarine. 

The  Vice-President  was  accorded  a  hearty 
vote  of  thanks  for  his  instructive  remarks  ; 
and  at  the  close  of  the  meeting  he  sorted 
and  classified  the  stamps  of  those  members 
who  had  brought  them,  to  avail  themselves 
of  his  offer. 


140 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


The  thirteenth  ordinary  meeting  of  the 
sixth  session  of  the  Society  was  held  at 
No.  qa,  Princess  Square,  on  Wednesday, 
March  23rd,  1897,  at  7.30  p.m.  The  Pre- 
sident in  the  chair,  supported  by  nine 
members. 

The  Rev.  E.  A.  Donaldson,  of  Stoke, 
Devonport,  was  balloted  for,  and  duly 
elected  a  member  of  the  Society. 

The  subject  of  study,  "The  Stamps  of 
Schleswig-Holstein,"  was  introduced  by  the 
President.  He  dealt  very  fully  with  the 
whole  of  the  issues,  illustrating  his  remarks 
by  the  exhibition  of  his  collection.  He 
pointed  out  the  different  shades  of  colour 
he  had  found,  and  gave  the  members  some 
very  interesting  information  as  to  the  many 
different  currencies  used.  He  also  gave  full 
information  of  the  dates  of  issue  and 
numbers  printed  of  each  value,  whereby 
members  could  estimate  the  relative  scarcity 
of  the  different  values. 

A  very  interesting  discussion  followed, 
and"  by  the  comparison  of  the  different 
collections  present  some  useful  information 
was  obtained,  and  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks 
was  accorded  the  President  for  his  in- 
structive remarks. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  meeting  the 
Vice-President  passed  round  for  inspection 
by  the  members  a  curiosity  he  had  recently 
found,  viz.,  a  3d.  Victoria  beaded  oval  of 
1862,  with  the  watermark  reading  "trhee" 
pence  instead  of  "  three." 


The  fourteenth  ordinary  meeting  of  the 
Society  was  held  at  No.  ga,  Princess  Square, 
on  Wednesday,  April  7th,  1897,  at  7.30  p.m. 

Mr.  H.  W.  Mayne  in  the  chair,  supported 
by  eight  members  and  one  visitor. 

The  minutes  of  last  meeting  were  read 
and  confirmed,  and  Mr.  Monk,  of  Tavistock, 
was  balloted  for,  and  duly  elected  a  corre- 
sponding member. 

The  subject  for  study,  "The  Stamps  of 
British  South  Africa,"  was  introduced  by 
Mr.  Walker.  He  gave  a  most  interesting 
and    exhaustive    paper,    dealing    with    the 


country  from  the  date  the  Chartfered  Co. 
were  given  control  to  the  present  time. 
Each  of  the  issues  was  dealt  with  very 
minutely,  the  alteration  in  design,  paper, 
and  perforation  being  given.  The  so-called 
"  Bulawayo  Provisionals "  were  dealt  with 
at  some  length,  particulars  of  the  numbers 
stated  to  have  been  printed  and  the  errors 
to  be  found  being  given.  His  remarks  were 
illustrated  throughout  with  the  exhibition  of 
his  own  collection,  and  in  addition  he  had 
obtained,  through  the  kindness  of  the  Secre- 
tary of  the  Sheffield  Society,  three  complete 
unused  sheets  of  the  id.,  6d.,  and  is.  of 
Issue  I.,  and  four  sheets  of  the  |d.,  3d., 
and  8d.  of  Issue  III.,  by  which  the  members 
were  shown  the  position  of  the  watermarks, 
and  also  the  number  of  stamps  showing 
watermark  and  the  number  unwatermarked. 
At  the  close  of  an  interesting  discussion 
a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  the 
lecturer,  the  members  expressing  their  keen 
appreciation  of  Mr.  Walker's  efforts  in 
securing  the  sheets  of  unused  stamps  for 
their  inspection. 


The  fifteenth  ordinary  meeting  of  the  Society 
was  held  at  No.  9a,  Princess  Square,  on 
Wednesday,  April  21st,  1897,  at  7.30  p.m. 

The  Vice-President  (Mr.  R.  Tyeth  Stevens) 
in  the  chair,  supported  by  nine  members  and 
one  visitor. 

The  minutes  of  last  meeting  were  read 
and  confirmed. 

The  evening  was  devoted  to  a  discussion 
on  "What  to  Collect."  In  a  most  interest- 
ing introduction  the  Vice-President  gave  the 
members  what,  in  his  opinion,  he  considered 
an  English  collector  should  collect.  His 
remarks  produced  an  interesting  discussion, 
and,  in  conclusion,  he  summarized  the 
opinions  expressed  by  the  members,  and 
gave  his  opinions  on  them. 

An  instructive  evening   was   brought   to 
a  close  with  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  Vice- 
President  for  his  introduction  and  remarks. 
W.  J.  W.  Miller,  Hoji.  Sec. 

5,  Athenaeum  Terrace,  Plymouth. 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


141 


SUBURBAN    STAMP    EXCHANGE. 


Founded  in  1892.  Number  of  members 
enrolled  on  May  ist,  1897,  was  290.  Two 
A  packets  (composed  exclusively  of  sheets 
valued  at  not  less  than  ^5  gross  each)  and 
two  B  packets  (with  sheets  under  ^5  each) 
are  made  up  and  circulated  on  the  20th  of 
each  month.  Medium  and  advanced  collec- 
tors and  buying  members  giving  satisfactory 
references  are  always  welcomed,  and  rules 
and  full  information  will  be  forwarded  on 
application.  Aggregate  value  of  the  four 
packets,  ^1600-1850.  The  ordinary  rules  of 
Exchange  Clubs,  with  monthly  settlements, 
apply.  Priority  on  the  lists  is  taken  in  turn, 
and  members  can  see  or  contribute  to  as 
many  packets  as  they  like   by  giving  due 

notice. 

Notice  b'Or  May. 

Two  A  and  two  B   packets  were  made 

up  and   despatched   on   April   23rd  ;    their 

quality  was  good,  but,  owing  to  the  Easter 

holidays,  fewer  contributions  were  received. 

Central  and  South  Africans  were  specially 


strong.  December  accounts  have  been  sub- 
mitted and  settled,  and  January  packets  have 
just  returned  from  the  supplementary  rounds. 
Sales  were  as  follows  : — 


£ 

s. 

d. 

Dec.  A  I  packet    . 

III 

4 

2 

„     A  2       „ 

123 

4 

7 

„     B  I       „ 

37 

19 

I 

„      B2        „ 

42 

6 

II 

Supplementary  rounds  of  A  1 

and  A  2  packets  . 

87 

13 

8 

February  packets  will  start  on  their  sup- 
plementary rounds  about  the  26th  inst.; 
members  wishing  to  be  included  in  lists 
should  notify  me  without  delay.  Probably 
only  two  packets  will  be  circulated  during 
the  summer  months  ;  due  notice,  however, 
will  be  given.  The  revised  code  of  rules  will 
be  ready  for  signature  (it  is  hoped)  very 
shortly. 

H.  A.  Slade,  Hon.  Sec. 

Tudor  House,  St.  Albans. 


IVe  have  to  express  our  regret  to  the  Hon.  Secretaries  of  the  foregoing  Philatelic  Societies  thai  thi 
publication  of  some  of  the  preceding  minutes  should  have  unavoidably  been  so  long  delayed. — Ed. 


CorKSponkiuc. 


Communications. — All  communications  on  Philatelic  viatters  and  Publications  for  Review  should 
be  addressed  to  the  Editor  of  The  London  Philatelist,  Kingston  Lodge,  Richmond  Place, 
Brighton. 

Advertisements  should  be  sent  to  Mr.  PL  M.  Gooch  (Advertising  Department),  Effingham  House, 
Arundel  Street,  London,  W.C. 

Subscriptions.  — The  London  Philatelist  will  be  sent,  post  f7-ee  in  Great  Britain  or  the  countries 
of  the  Postal  Union,  to  any  subscriber,  on  receipt  of  6s.  (§1.50).  Subscribers'  remittances  should 
be  sent  to  Mr.  H.  M.  GoocH,  Effingham  House,  Arundel  Street,  Strand,  London,  W.C. 


FORGED  CEYLON  SURCHARGES. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  ^'■London  Philatelist." 
Dear  Sir, — I  recently  received  from  a 
Mr.  E.  G.  Rusbridge,  the  Fort,  Colombo 
(whose  original  circular  I  enclose),  two  books 
of  "surcharged"  Ceylon  stamps  of  various 
issues,  which  he  offered  me  for  50  rupees  per 
book.  1  have  had  the  whole  of  the  "  sur- 
charged "  stamps  in  one  of  the  books 
photographed,  and  send  you  copies  of  them 
on  two  sheets.  The  book  not  photographed 
contained  a  further  considerable  assortment 
of  "  surcharged "  stamps  differing  from, 
and  in  addition  to,  those  in  the  photo- 
graphs.    In   fact,   the   two   books    together 


held  a  most  magnificent  collection  (nearly 
200  in  all)  of  Ceylon  "  surcharged "  and 
unsurcharged  issues,  and  all,  including 
many  not  catalogued,  for  100  rupees.  I 
have  heard  of  several  other  similar  books 
having  turned  up  in  this  city  lately,  and 
Mr.  Rusbridge  himself  has  been  good 
enough  to  inform  me  that  the  demand  for 
them  is  very  great.  Some  of  us  out  here 
are  now  minutely  examining  our  sur- 
charged Ceylons,  and  comparing  them  with 
specimens  from  the  Rusbridge  crop.  In 
the  meantime  I  take  the  liberty  of  sending 
you  the  accompanying  photos,  in  the  hope 
that  you  may  be  able  to  assist  the  many 


142 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


collectors  who  touch  at  Colombo  to  fully 
appreciate    Mr.    Rusbridge's    philanthropic 
endeavours  on  their  behalf. 
Yours  faithfully, 

WiLMOT   CORFIELD. 


The  circular  reads  : — 

Ceylon  Stamps. 
The  Ceylon  Government  having  destroyed 
all  the  Ceylon  surcharged  stamps,  cards,  and 
envelopes,  collectors  must  kindly  bear  in  mind 
that  Ceylon  stamps  are  considered  the  best 
investment  one  could  make  novifadays,  and  there- 
fore apply  without  delay  to  the  undersigned 
before  prices  rise  higher. 

E.    G.    RUSBRIDGE, 

Colombo  Library,  Fort  Ceylon. 

[From  the  photograph  kindly  sent  by  Mr. 
W.  Corfield  it  is  at  once  evident  that  the  vast 
majority  of  his  specimens  are  provided  with 
forged  surcharges,  and  it  is  well  therefore 
that  collectors  should  be  on  their  guard. — 
Ed.] 


THE    NIGER    COAST    STAMPS. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  '■'■London  Philatelist." 

Dear  Sir,  —  I  have  read  with  much 
interest  Mr.  C.  H.  Rock's  and  Mr.  Morley's 
remarks  on  the  stamps  of  the  Oil  Rivers 
and  Niger  Coast  Protectorate  in  the  Nov- 
ember, December,  and  January  numbers  of 
the  LondoJi  Philatelist,  calling  attention  to 
varieties  of  perforation  and  so  forth. 

I  have  been  a  stamp  collector  for  over 
twenty-five  years,  and  having  been  in  the 
Niger  Coast  Protectorate  I  naturally  had 
opportunities  of  acquiring,  and  did  acquire, 
a  good  number  of  the  different  varieties, 
especially  of  surcharges,  that  my  judgment 
told  me  should  become  valuable  because  of 
the  very  small  number  issued  of  each. 

Of  the  surcharge  "  ONE  half-pennv,"  in 
black,  on  2|d.,  blue  which  Mr.  Rock  mentions 
(only  960  of  which  were  issued,  i.e.,  twenty 
sheets — forty-eight  stamps  in  each  sheet), 
I  have  before  me,  besides  a  number  of 
used  copies,  an  entire  unsevered  sheet  of 
forty-eight  stamps,  unused  of  course  and 
with  original  gum.  The  sheet  consists  of 
six  rows  of  eight  stamps,  and  it  is  the  last 
stamp  of  each  row  in  which  the  word  "one" 
reads  "OIE,"  as  remarked  by  Mr.  Rock. 

Mr.  Rock  is  perfectly  correct  in  stating 
that  owing  to  the  extreme  dampness  of  the 


climate  only  small  quantities  of  any  of  the 
stamps  were  sent  out  at  a  time  to  the  Niger 
Coast,  and,  as  it  was  not  thought  to  be  a 
value  likely  to  be  much  required,  very  few  ^d. 
stamps  were  sent  out ;  and  when  they  were 
bought  up,  as  they  were  very  quickly,  by 
people  out  there,  who  —  collectively — sent 
thousands  home  to  their  friends  (many 
stamping  their  letters  with  five  |d.  stamps 
instead  of  one  at  2|d.)  and  by  dealers,  it 
took  over  three  months  before  a  fresh  stock 
could  be  got  out  from  England.  Meanwhile 
there  was,  of  course,  a  continual  demand 
for  them  in  the  Protectorate  for  postal 
purposes,  to  meet  which  stamps  had  to  be 
surcharged  in  a  hand-to-mouth  sort  of  way 
— one  sheet  or  so  at  a  time. 

I  cannot,  of  course,  as  I  was  not  there  at 
the  time,  pretend  to  explain  the  variety  of 
Id.  surcharges  of  the  Oil  Rivers  lot,  or  the 
different  inks  used  ;  but  the  fact  remains  that 
all  these  stamps  were  duly  issued  by  the 
Postmaster-General — and  in  one  case  by  the 
Postmaster  (the  Acting  Vice-Consul)  of  an 
un-get-at-able  out-station  —  and  were  used 
genuinely  for  the  franking  of  letters,  as 
scores  of  my  entire  original  envelopes  will 
show. 

I  have  even  heard  that  a  dealer  objected 
(probably  because  he  had  not  got  hold  of 
any  of  them  !)  that  some  of  the  provisionals 
were  not  "  authorized."  They  have  passed 
through  the  post  and  would  still  pass,  and 
that  is  quite  sufficient  authorization,  dealers 
who  are  "short"  of  them  notwithstand- 
ing. 

I  have  now  before  me  a  letter  from  a 
stamp  dealing  firm  offering  a  friend  of  mine 
two  of  these  surcharges  at  60s.  each,  and 
stating  that  "  the  others  wanted  [six  varieties] 
were  not  at  present  in  stock ! "  This  is  one 
of  the  firms  that  has  affected  to  pooh-pooh 
these  stamps,  and  I  rather  think  the 
reason  for  their  doing  so  is  transparently 
obvious ! 

If  these  good  people  could  get  hold  of 
a  stock  of  these  stamps,  at  their  own 
price,  I  undertake  to  say  710  more  would 
be  heard  of  their  being  "unnecessary"  or 
"  unauthorized"  ! 

It  is  somewhat  instructive  and  rather 
amusing  to  note  how  some  stamp  dealers, 
when  they  have  not  been  able  to  get  hold 
of  any  particular  stamps,  especially  sur- 
charges which  are  generally  used  up  on  the 
spot  almost  as  soon  as  issued,  treat   their 


THE  MARKET. 


143 


issue  almost  in  the  light  of  a  personal  slight 
to  themselves,  and  therefore  try  to  run  them 
down  ;  it  reminds  one  rather  forcibly  of  the 
fable  about  "  the  fox  and  the  grapes." 

I  shall  be  very  happy  to  show  my  Oil 
Rivers  and  Niger  Coast  stamps  to  Mr.  Rock 
if  he  thinks  they  will  assist  him  in  preparing 
the  list  which  he  alludes  to,  and  he  may  be 


able  to  point  me  out  some  varieties  I  have 

not  observed. 

Yours  faithfully, 

A.  G.  Griffith. 

Royal  Colonial  Institute,  London, 
\!)th  April,  1897. 

[Our  correspondent's  remarks  seem  to 
raise  the  Philatelic-zoological  aspect  of  the 
question  ! — Ed.] 


ffljt  ilmiict. 


Messrs.  Ventom,  Bull,  &  Cooper. 

Sale  on  April  8th  and  gib. 

/  s.  d. 
Naples,  f  tornese,  blue,  "  Arms  "  .17  00 
Portugal,  first  issue,  50  reis,  green, 

unused 400 

Spain,  1 85 1,  2  reales,  red       .         .1800 
„      1852         „        ,,         .         .   10    o    o 
„      1853         „         „         .         .660 
Geneva,  double  stamp   .         .         .  20  10    o 
Tuscany,  2  soldi,  brick-red,  hori- 
zontal pair, used,  on  entire,  with 

a  I  soldo 27     o    o 

Ditto,  3  lire    .         ...         .         .  42     o    o 

Ceylon,    wmk.    CC,    5d.,    purple- 
brown,  unused        .         .         .950 
Ditto,  2  r.  50  c.,  lilac-rose,  unused  .     4  15     o 
Lagos,    1885-87,   2/6,   olive-black, 

unused 4  15     o 

Ditto,  ditto,  5/-,  blue,  unused  .800 
Ditto,  ditto,  10/-,  lilac-brn.,  unused  15  00 
British  Columbia, perf.  \2\,  i  dollar, 

green,  unused,  horizontal  pair    600 
Ditto,  perf.  14,  10  c,  blue  and  pink, 

unused,  horizontal  pair   .         .   18   18     o 
Nevis,  first   issue,  perf.   11^,    id., 

vermilion,  unused  sheet  (12)  .     8     5     o 
Ditto,  wmk.  CA,  i/-,  purple,  block 

of  4,  unused    .         .         .         .5100 
St.  Kitts,  6d.,  olive-brown,  unused, 

block  of  4       .         .         .         .700 
Trinidad,  wmk.  CC,  5/-,  dull  lake, 

imperf.,  unused        .         .         .500 
Lubeck,  the  error,  2|  sch.,  brown  .   10    o    o 

Sale  on  April  29th  and  30th. 
Great    Britain,    I.R.    official,  ^i, 

green,  venical  piir.         .         .700 


Ceylon,  8d.,  brown,  imperf.,  used    £    s.    </. 

on  entire,  with  a  id.,  blue  .  22  o  o 
India,  service  stamp,   1867,   2  as., 

green  and  lilac,  unused  .  .  7  10  o 
New  Zealand,  1856,  i/-,  blue-green, 

thick  paper,  serrated  perfs.  .  6  10  o 
St.  Christopher,  wmk.  CA,  4d.,  blue 

unused 4  12     6 

Messrs.  Puttick  &  Simpson. 

Great  Britain,  is.,  green,  oc- 
tagonal, unused  (with  gum)  10  5  o 
Ditto,    id.,   black,   V.R.,  block  of 

4,  with  full  gum  .  .  .  53  o  o 
Ditto,  a  block  of  4,  but  showing 

margins  of  sheets  .  .  .  68  o  o 
Ditto,    a    complete    set    of    plate 

numbers,  unused  .  .  .7110 
Ditto,  3d.,  carmine,  plate  2,  small 

letters,  block  of  9,  unused  .215  o 
Ditto,  4d.,  carmine,  medium  garter, 

on  white,  unused  .  .  .1000 
Ditto,    5s.,   rose,    plate    4,    wmk. 

anchor,  on  bluish  .  .  .1100 
Ceylon,  IS.  9d.,  green,  imperf.  .  5  12  6 
British    Columbia,    perf.    12^,    10 

cents,  pink,  pair,  unused  .700 
Canada,    6d.,    grey-lilac,    imperf., 

unused  .         .         .         .   12   12     o 

Ditto,    lod.,    blue,    imperf,    thick 

paper,  unused  .  .  .12120 
Ditto,  6d.,  purple-brown,  imperf., 

unused  .  .  .  .  .  15  o  o 
St.  Vincent,  star  wmk.,  4d.,  dark 

blue,  unused  .         .         .500 

Ditto,  wmk.   CA,  4d.,  red-brown, 

unused    ,        .         .         .         .     6  15     o 


144 


THE  MARKET. 


Messrs.  Cheveley  &  Co. 

Sale  on  April  14th. 

Geneva,  double  stamp,  on   entire 

£ 

s. 

d. 

letter       

21 

10 

0 

Winterthur,  a  pair,  on  ditto  . 

6 

0 

0 

Saxony,  3  pf.,  red   .... 

5 

15 

0 

Nevis,  CA,  6d.,  green     . 

6 

10 

0 

Sale  on  April  26th. 

Afghanistan,    1871-72,    6    shahi, 

purple,  unused 

S 

15 

0 

Ditto,  1875,  I  shahi,  mauve  . 

4 

10 

0 

Ditto,  ditto,  I  sunar,  black,  unused 

4 

0 

0 

Sale  on  May  loth. 

New  South  Wales,  laureated,  8d., 

orange     

4 

f5 

0 

Bolivia,  500  c.,  11  stars,  unused     . 

4 

3 

6 

Buenos  Ayres,  5  pesos,  orange 

6 

6 

0 

Messrs.   Buhl  &  Co.,  Limited. 
Sale  on  April  22nd. 

Bahamas,  CC,   is.,  green,  imper- 
forate pair,  unused. 

Ceylon,    CC,    jd.,    lilac,    imperf. 
unused    .... 

Ditto,     ditto,   2d.,  maize,   imper 
forate  pair,  unused 

St.   Helena,  CC,  3d.,  purple,  im- 
perforate pair,  unused    .         .150 

Tobago,  CA,  6d.,  ochre,  unused    .     815 


4  10 


5  10 


Mr.  p.  M.  Wolsieffer  (Chicago). 

United  States,  1869,  90  c.,  unused    £,   s.    d. 

block  of  4  .  .  .  .2100 
Ditto,  1863,  3c.,  scarlet.  .  .880 
Ditto,  Justice,  90  c.,  unused  .  .  5  17  6 
Ditto,  State,  §5  .  .  .  .  27  o  o 
Ditto,  ditto,  %\o  .  .  .  .  12  14  o 
Ditto,  ditto,  $20  .  .  .  .  12  o  o 
Antagaville,  Ala.,  5  c,  provisional 

envelope         .        .        .        .  87  18    o 

Messrs.  R.  F.  Albrecht  &  Co. 
(New  York  City.) 

United  States,  1851,  imperf,  24  c, 

lilac 640 

Dittto,     1857-60,     5  c.,    brick-red, 

unused     .         .         .         .         .     9  12     o 

Ditto,  ditto,  90  c,  blue,  unused     .390 

Ditto,  1861-66,  3  c,  scarlet,  pen- 
marked  520 

St.    Christopher,    CA,    4d.,    blue, 

unused  .         .         .         .520 

Colombian  Republic,   1876,  20  c.,' 
blue,  on  laid  paper,  sheet  of 
fifty         .        .         •        .         .500 

Grenada,  1891,  id.  on  2s.,  orange, 

unused 4  18    o 

United   States,    1869,  90  c,    not 

embossed        .         .         .         .400 


A.  E.  ChaLOS,  U.A.,  Piiiit 


<]    HER    MAJESTY    THE    QUEEN.    >> 

IN    ROBES   OF   STATE.   JULY   17.    1837. 


THE 


THE    MONTHLY    JOURNAL    OF 

THE    PHILATELIC   SOCIETY,    LONDON. 


Vol.   VI. 


JUNE,    1897. 


No.    66. 


Clje  gianT0ub  |ubilte  anD  ^Ijilittcli). 

— ♦ — 

HE  great  day  of  national  thanksgiving  and  rejoicing  has 
been  celebrated  with  the  happiest  results,  to  Her  Gracious 
Majesty,  to  her  millions  of  lieges,  and  to  her  distinguished 
visitors.  It  is  superfluous  to  assert  that,  drawn  as  they  are 
from  all  sections  of  society,  Philatelists  are  as  loyal  to  Her 
Majesty  and  as  proudly  appreciative  of  the  lustre  of  her 
long  reign  as  any  other  section  of  the  community.  We  are 
not  however  content  to  rest  upon  this  assertion,  but  contend 
that  the  very  nature  of  the  pursuit  prevents  any  Philatelist 
from  being  a  "  little  Englander,"  and  that  it  imbues  him 
(or  her)  with  a  closer  acquaintance  with  the  vast  and  varied 
realm  that,  under  the  proud  title  of  the  British  Empire, 
is  rapidly  assuming  proportions  such  as  the  world  has  never  seen. 

At  the  period  of  the  Queen's  accession  to  the  throne  in  1837  postage 
stamps  were  only  in  embryo,  but  ere  three  years  of  her  reign  had  sped  they 
had  become  accomplished  facts,  so  that  the  sixty  years  of  Her  Majesty's 
rule  are  practically  coterminous  with  their  use.  In  almost  every  guise, 
from  tender  girlhood  to  honoured  age,  Queen  Victoria's  profile  has  appeared 
upon  the  stamps  issued  in  the  various  countries  and  colonies  that  acknow- 
ledge her  sway.  Philatelists,  therefore,  have  the  most  tangible  and  charming 
connection  with  "  the  glorious  reign,"  and  the  magnificent  national  rejoicing 
that  has  just  celebrated  the  completion  of  its  sixtieth  year. 

Amongst  these  many  charming  representations  of  Her  Majesty  that  are 
depicted  upon  our  British  and  Colonial  stamps,  there  is  perhaps  none  more 
beautiful  than  that  of  the  New  Zealand  stamps.  It  is  therefore  with 
a  satisfaction  that  we  are  confident  will  be  shared  by  our  readers  that  we 
are  enabled  to  reproduce  the  original  portrait  of  Her  Majesty  from  which 
this  striking  vignette  was  obviously  reproduced.  Mr.  C.  H.  Mottram  has 
been  kindly  permitted  by  the  authorities  at  the  British  Museum  to  photo- 
graph the  engraving  in  their  possession,  and  we  have  to  express  our  deep 


146  THE  DIAMOND  JUBILEE  AND  PHILATELY. 

obligations  to  that  gentleman,  both  for  the  portrait  and  the  interesting 
information  hereon  that  we  are  permitted  to  lay  before  our  readers. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  contemporaneous  excerpts  which  follow  that 
Her  Majesty  is  portrayed  in  the  robes  of  state  that  she  wore  at  the 
prorogation  of  Parliament  in  1837.  The  portrait  was  painted  by  order  of 
the  Queen  to  present  to  her  mother,  the  Duchess  of  Kent,  as  a  souvenir 
of  the  occasion  of  Her  Majesty's  visit  to  the  House  of  Lords.  It  was  the 
first  one  taken  of  Her  Majesty  in  her  reign,  and  is  sometimes  described 
as  " in  Coronation  Robes"  which  is  erroneous. 

The  prorogation  would  probably  have  been  the  Queen's  first  public 
appearance  of  importance,  as  it  occurred  on  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  her 
reign,  an  event  naturally  exciting  much  interest.  The  picture  was  painted 
by  Alfred  Edward  Chalon,  R.A.  (i  780-1 860),  was  engraved  in  mezzo-tint 
by  Samuel  Cousins,  A.R.A.,  and  published  on  Coronation  Day,  June  28th, 
1838.  The  genius  of  painter  and  engraver  has  undoubtedly  succeeded 
in  transmitting  for  the  benefit  of  posterity  a  singularly  beautiful  record 
of  Her  Majesty's  appearance  in  the  first  year  of  her  illustrious  reign,  and 
it  is  with  much  pleasure  that  we  present  her  portrait  to  the  Philatelic 
world,  with  which  it  is  so  especially  and  charmingly  associated. 

The  following  excerpts,  kindly  furnished  by  Mr.  Mottram,  will  be  found  to 
be  of  much  interest  in  connection  with  the  picture : — 

"  Mr.  Chalon  has  just  finished  a  drawing  of  our  young  Queen,  which  we  think 
may  take  its  place  as  tlic  portrait,  whether  in  right  of  the  likeness,  which  is  faithful  and 
characteristic,  or  in  right  of  its  artistic  treatment.  Our  Sovereign  is  standing  in  all  the 
bravery  of  gold  and  diamonds,  velvet  and  ermine,  as  she  appeared  on  the  day  when 
she  closed  Parliament ;  but  these  are  so  judiciously  managed  as  not  to  oppress  her 
with  their  gorgeousness.  The  left  arm  rests  among  rich  drapery,  and  the  crimson 
train,  sweeping  in  massive  folds  down  the  damasked  steps  on  which  she  is  standing, 
gives  stature,  and  adds  to  the  dignity  of  her  figure.  There  is  a  delicate  taste,  too,  in 
all  the  accessories — in  the  virgin-white  flowers  peeping  in  among  the  columns  in  the 
background,  in  the  crouching  lion  sculptured  in  the  pedestal  at  her  side.  This  is 
certainly  (as  it  should  be)  Mr.  Chalon's  most  successful  work." — The  Athenceum, 
September  9th,  1837. 

"The  Queen  went  in  state  yesterday  to  the  House  of  Lords  to  prorogue  the 
Parliament. 

"  At  twenty  minutes  before  two  o'clock  the  Royal  procession  "  (consisting  of  four 
carriages,  each  drawn  by  six  horses,  and  the  state  coach)*  "left  the  new  Palace  in 
St.  James's  Park.  The  state  coach  was  drawn  by  eight  cream-coloured  horses, 
preceded  by  the  Queen's  marshalmen  two  and  two,  the  Queen's  footmen  in  state 
liveries  two  and  two,  and  a  party  of  the  Yeomen  of  the  Guard.  As  the  Queen 
entered  the  state  coach  a  signal  was  given  by  the  Sergeant-trumpeter  to  the  trumpeter 
on  horseback,  the  band  of  the  Foot  Guards  at  the  same  moment  playing  '  God  Save 
the  Queen.' 

"  Over  a  white  satin  petticoat,  embroidered  with  gold,  the  Queen  wore  a  kirtle  of 
crimson  velvet  trimmed  with  ermine  in  stripes,  and  gold  lace.  The  robe  was  confined 
at  the  waist  and  shoulders  with  gold  cords  and  tassels.  Her  Majesty  had  a  diamond 
stomacher,   on   both  arms  strings  of  diamonds,  and  on  the  left  an  armlet  with  the 

*  The  words  in  brackets  arc  my  own  ;  ihe  report  went  on  to  enumerate  the  names  ol"  the 
Household.— C.  H.  M. 


THE   DIAMOND  JUBILEE   AND  PHILATELY.  147 

motto  of  the  Order  of  the  Garter.  Her  Majesty  also  wore  the  Riband,  Badge,  and 
Star  of  the  Order,  the  two  latter  set  in  diamonds. 

"  On  the  Queen's  head  was  a  splendid  circlet  of  diamonds.  Opposite  to  Her 
Majesty  sat  the  Duchess  of  Sutherland,  Mistress  of  the  Robes,  and  the  Master  of  the 
Horse. 

"  A  new  set  of  harness  for  the  cream-coloured  horses  was  used  for  the  first  time. 
It  is  of  red  morocco,  richly  ornamented  with  the  Royal  Coat  of  Arms. 

"The  Royal  procession  passed  through  the  triumphal  arch  in  front  of  the  Palace, 
and  down  the  middle  Mall  in  St.  James's  Park,  escorted  by  the  Royal  Regiment  of 
Horse  Guards. 

"  Her  Majesty  was  enthusiastically  received  on  the  whole  of  the  route.  On  Her 
Majesty's  arrival  at  the  House  of  Lords  the  Queen's  robe  was  changed  for  a  Parlia- 
mentary robe  of  crimson  velvet,  entirely  lined  with  ermine,  and  having  a  cape  of 
ermine.  The  sides  and  bottom  of  the  robe  had  a  deep  border  of  ermine  and  gold 
lace." — 'Court  Circular,'  The  Times,  Tuesday,  July  i8th,  1837. 

"This  being  the  day  fixed  for  the  prorogation  of  Parhament  by  the  Queen  in 
person,  the  House  of  Lords  was  the  scene  of  great  bustle  and  preparation  at  an  early 
hour. 

"There  were  upwards  of  130  peers  present,  and  nearly  double  the  amount  of 
ladies  in  all.     The  coup  d'ail  from  the  gallery  was  very  imposing. 

"At  two  o'clock  the  firing  of  guns  and  the  sound  of  music  intimated  that  Her 
Majesty  was  approaching.  The  Duchess  of  Kent,  accompanied  by  the  Princess 
of  Leiningen,  soon  afterwards  entered.  The  peers  and  peeresses  rose.  Her  Royal 
Highness  bowed  repeatedly,  and  then  took  her  seat  on  the  woolsack,  immediately 
opposite  and  close  to  the  throne.  The  Princess  of  Leiningen  sat  beside  Her  Royal 
Highness,  who  was  observed  to  be  in  deep  conversation  with  the  Duke  of  Sussex, 
until  a  flourish  of  trumpets  was  heard  from  the  outside,  when  everyone  prepared  for 
the  appearance  of  the  Queen ;  but  some  delay  took  place,  and  an  apprehension 
prevailed  that  Her  Majesty's  self-possession  had  failed  her  while  in  the  robing-room. 
Another  flourish  of  trumpets  was  heard,  and  all  again  rose  from  their  seats,  but  only 
to  experience  another  disappointment.  After  a  third  flourish  the  heralds  slowly 
entered,  and  everyone  was  on  tip-toe ;  the  state  officers  soon  followed,  preceding  the 
Queen,  who  walked  with  a  firm  step  to  the  throne.  Her  Majesty  was  dressed  in  white 
satin  robes  decorated  with  gold  and  jewels ;  she  also  wore  the  Order  of  the  Garter, 
and  a  rich  diadem  and  necklace  composed  of  costly  diamonds.  The  Royal  mantle  of 
crimson  velvet  surmounted  the  whole.  On  taking  her  seat  Her  Majesty  seemed  to  be 
struck  with  the  gorgeous  spectacle  before  her ;  a  slight  flush  was  visible  on  her 
countenance,  but  there  was  nothing  to  indicate  nervous  trepidation.  After  a  pause  of 
two  or  three  minutes  Viscount  Melbourne  spoke  in  an  undertone  to  Her  Majesty,  who 
immediately  said,  '  My  Lords,  be  seated.' 

"  After  the  attendance  of  the  Commons  at  the  bar  of  their  lordship's  house — 

"  Her  Majesty  delivered  the  speech. 

"  Her  Majesty  read  the  speech  in  a  clear  and  distinct  tone.  Her  enunciation  was 
deliberate  and  correct,  and  her  voice  being  musical  she  made  herself  heard  without 
an  apparent  effort.  Her  demeanour  was  at  once  graceful  and  dignified,  and  confirmed 
that  prepossession  in  her  favour  which  everyone  seemed  to  conceive  on  her  first 
entering  the  house. 

"  The  Lord  Chancellor  declared  it  to  be  Her  Majesty's  royal  will  and  pleasure 
that  Parliament  should  stand  prorogued  to  Thursday,  the  loth  day  of  August  next. 

"  Her  Majesty  then  prepared  to  depart.  As  she  descended  the  throne  she  turned 
towards  the  Duchess  of  Kent  with  a  smile  of  confidence,  and  on  retiring  bowed  in  an 
affable  manner  to  the  peeresses  and  peers  whom  she  passed." — The  House  of  Lords, 
Monday,  July  17th,  1837. 


[        >48       ] 

Cl^e  Stamps  d  §0libta. 

A  Paper  read  before  the  London  Philatelic  Society  on  the  14TH  May,  1897. 

Bv    H.    R.    OLDFIELD. 
( Continued  front  page  125.) 


Plate  VI. 

"^^^^^^l^wWi  HIS   was   called   E   in   the  "Notes."     The  colours   are  very 

wlV  KjVM       dark  green  and  dull  green.     The  stamps  printed  from  this 

Ml  I  1^^1(91      plate   can    be    divided    into    two    periods,   the    dark    green 

/^^^      colour  being  the  earlier  (not,  as  stated  in  my  "  Notes,"  the 

^^^^p         later  printing).     The  differences  arise  solely  from  the  wear 

^^^==^=^      of  the  plate  and  not  from  any  retouch.     In  the  first  period 

the  stamps  closely  resemble  in  colour  and  general  appearance  those  printed 

from  Plate  IV.;  while  in  the  second  period  the  colour  is  dull  green,  and  the 

stamps  have  a  more  open   and   white  appearance  about  the  breast  as  in 

Plate  v.,  several  of  them  being  defective  in  consequence  of  the  wear  of  the 

plate.     I  have  not  seen  any  stamps  from  this  plate  in  the  lilac  colour. 

The  following  are  the  characteristics  of  the  first  period  of  Plate   VI. : — 

There  are  no  signs  of  any  diagonal  lines  on  the  globe.     In  some  cases 

the  horizontal  counter  lines  have  disappeared,  and    there    is    a   very   dark 

shadow  to  the  right  of  the  globe  on  all  the  stamps  except  8  (Nos.  7,  9, 

16,  30,  31,  33.  55.  and  69). 

The  breast  of  the  eagle  is  well  shaded,  but  a  plain  white  space,  varying 
in  length  and  shape,  is  left  in  the  centre.  The  background  in  some  few 
cases  has  a  solid  appearance,  but  generally  looks  more  like  confused 
lines  in  blocks,  showing  evident  signs  of  wear,  instead  of  being  composed 
of  vertical  and  horizontal  lines  running  continuously  across  the  stamp  from 
top  to  bottom  and  side  to  side.     Colour,  very  dark  green. 

The  following  are  the  characteristics  of  the  second  period  of  Plate   VI.:— 

The    horizontal   counter  lines   have   now  almost  disappeared    from  the 

globe,  leaving  merely  the  curved  lines  which  form  the  shape  of  the  globe 

itself  ;   the  shadow  on  the  right   is   much   less,  and  has  quite  vanished   in 

many  cases. 

There  is  no  solid  appearance  left  in  the  background,  which  is  composed 
merely  of  confused  blocks  of  lines.  The  whole  plate  is  absolutely  on  its 
last  legs.      Colour,  dull  green. 

In  both  periods  the  lettering  on  the  oval  band  is  thick  and  smudged, 
so  that  there  is  no  open  space  between  the  crossbars  and  the  top  of  the 
letters  "a"  in  the  inscription.  In  the  case  of  some  of  the  stamps  there  are 
no  crossbars.  See  the  first  "a"  of  "BOLIVIA"  in  No.  i,  and  in  the  second 
period  note  the  three  "  a's  "  in   No.  7. 


THE  STAMPS   OF  BOLIVIA.  149 

Prominent  Varieties. —  The  only  variety  peculiar  to  Plate  VI.  ivhich  1 
have  been  able  to  discover  is: — 

No.  6Q,  where  the  word  "  BOLIVIA "  in  the  inscription  is  spelt 
"  BOUVIA." 

There  are  some  few  varieties  common  to  Plates  VL  and  VIL,  among  zvhich 
may  be  noted: — 

No.  8.  The  left  wing  has  become  defective,  and  the  outline  only  has 
been  renewed,  and  presents  a  very  patched   appearance. 

No.  5.  The  left  wing  here  has  also  become  defective,  and  has  been 
carelessly  redrawn. 

Plate  VII.. 

There  is  some  doubt  as  to  the  date  on  which  stamps  were  printed 
from  this  plate.  Some  few  are  printed  in  green,  but  they  are  mostly  in 
the  lilac  colour,  and  the  change  appears  to  have  been  made  about  the 
same  time  as  the  colour  of  the  50  centavos  was  changed  from  yellow  to 
blue,  and  the  100  centavos  from  blue  to  green.  In  Edward  L.  Pember- 
ton's  Catalogue,  published  in  January,  1874,  the  changes  of  colour  are 
termed  a  second  issue,  and  the  date  is  given  as  (.-')  1868  ;  but  if  so,  they 
must  have  been  in  use  for  a  very  short  time,  for  the  stamps  of  the 
succeeding  issue  were  actually  received  from  the  American  Bank  Note  Co. 
in  November,  1867.  I  should  imagine  the  more  correct  date  would  be  the 
end  of   1867. 

I  find  in  the  Stamp  Collectors'  Magazine  for  1869  a  statement  that  the 
change  was  merely  to  satisfy  public  requirements  pending  the  arrival  of 
the  next  issue  from  New  York,  and  that  only  a  small  number  of  sheets 
were  printed. 

It  has  always  been  supposed  that  the  lilac  stamps  were  printed  from 
the  preceding  plate,  No.  6,  and  no  one  seems  to  have  noticed  the 
differences  between  Plates  VI.  and  VII.  I  am  inclined  to  think,  however,  that 
the  bulk  of  the  printing  in  the  lilac  shade  was  from  Plate  VII.,  and  for  the 
following  reasons  :  In  the  first  place,  you  find  some  very  worn  copies 
from  Plate  VI.,  and  one  of  the  sheets  shown  to-night  evinces  very  evident 
signs  of  wear. 

At  the  same  time  the  two  periods  of  the  green  stamps  from  Plate  VI. 
are  undoubtedly  similar,  save  for  the  wear  of  the  plate.  If,  then,  you  find 
lilac  stamps  showing  a  clear  impression,  they  must  either  have  been 
printed  from  Plate  VI.  during  the  first  period,  or  else  there  was  a  retouch 
of  Plate  VI.  before  the  printing  in  lilac  began.  Now,  as  a  matter  of  fact, 
you  find  both  clear  distinct  impressions,  and  also  worn  ones,  in  the  lilac 
shades,  and  so  the  first  assumption  would  involve  a  change  of  colour  from 
green  to  lilac,  then  back  to  green,  and  possibly  again  to  lilac.  This 
sounds  very  improbable,  and  would  require  to  be  very  fully  proved  before 
being  accepted.  Notwithstanding  the  discovery  of  the  lilac  stamp  printed 
from  Plate  V.  before  referred  to,  I  am  inclined  to  retain  this  view,  and  to 
retain  the  printing  in  lilac  from  Plate  V.  as  an  experiment  only.  The 
rarity  of  these  stamps  seems  to  support  such  a  contention. 

Careful  examination  forces  me  to  the  conclusion  that  there  was  another 


ISO  THE  STAMPS  OF  BOLIVIA. 

retouch  after  Plate  VI.,  which  I  therefore  term  Plate  VII.,  and  from  which  with 
but  few  exceptions  the  stamps  in  the  lilac  colour  were  printed.  To  be 
satisfied  on  this  point  you  have  only  to  examine  the  background  of 
almost  any  one  of  the  stamps,  and  to  compare  the  varieties  mentioned 
below  with  the  same  stamp  on  Plate  VI. 

At  first  I  thought  no  stamps  were  printed  in  green  from  this  plate,  but 
I  have  recently  become  the  owner  of  a  sheet  in  green,  which  differs 
materially  from  Plate  VI.,  while  it  appears  to  be  identical  with  the  lilac 
sheets.  I  am  convinced,  however,  that  very  few  impressions  were  taken 
in  the  green  colour,  which  must,  therefore,  be  very  rare.  The  lilac  colour 
varies  from  brown-rose  or  pink  to  brown-red,  bright  violet,  lilac,  dull  lilac, 
and  grey-lilac.  The  earliest  impressions  appear  to  have  been  in  brown-rose, 
pink  and  red -lilac,  while  the  latest  were  in  lilac  and  dull  lilac,  as  you 
may  see  from  the  copies  now  submitted  for  your  inspection. 

TJic  following  arc  the  characteristics  of  Plate  VII. : — 
After  the  first  few  impressions  had  been  taken  the  colour  was  changed 
from  green  to  varying  shades  of  lilac.  There  are  horizontal  counter  lines 
at  the  right  of  the  globe  on  some  of  the  stamps,  but  in  many  these  are 
wanting.  The  background  has  been  redrawn,  and  in  the  earlier  impres- 
sions it  is  very  distinct  considering  the  state  of  the  plate  ;  even  in  the 
worn  copies  it  is  generally  much  clearer  than  in  the  green  stamps  from 
Plate  VI.  The  breast  is  very  much  the  same  as  in  the  second  period  of 
that  plate. 

Prominent   Varieties. —  The  following  are  pectiliar  to  Plate    VII. : — 

No.  3.  Both  the  wings  of  the  eagle  are  defective  and  broken  up  in  a 
most  extraordinary  way.     {See  Illustration.) 

No.  6.  The  left  wing  has  become  worn  and  been  carelessly  redrawn. 

No.  II.  {See  Illustration}}  Three  short  diagonal  lines  have  been  added 
as  feather  pinions,  but  have  been  placed  OUTSIDE  tJie  outline  of  the  right 
wing. 

No.  20.  A  new  thick  diagonal  line  has  been  added  to  the  lower  part 
of  the  left  wing. 

I  am  afraid  the  consideration  of  this  5  centavos  stamp  has  occupied 
a  large  portion  of  space  and  of  time  also;  but  notwithstanding,  I  should 
like  to  add  a  few  more  words  to  show  that,  however  long  the  explanation 
may  have  been,  there  is  really  very  little  difficulty  by  means  of  it  in 
readily  assigning  any  5  centavos  stamp  to  the  plate  from  which  it  was 
printed. 

The    first    thing   to   do   is   to   look   at   the   globe. 

If  there  are  only  vertical  and  diagonal  lines  there,  the  stamp  is  from 
either  Plate  I.  or  II.,  and  if  from  the  latter  there  will  probably  be  traces 
of  the  former  lines  in  the  breast  to  be  seen,  and  also  there  will  be  some 
distinct  vertical  lines  of  shading  on  the  breast,  which  is  covered  with 
coarser  lines  of  shading. 

If  there  are  only  diagonal  lines,  the  stamp  must  be  either  No.  12  of 
Plate  I. — and  you  can  see  that  by  looking  at  the  illustration  of  this 
stamp  which  has  been  prepared — or  else  it  must  be  from  Plate  II. 


THE  STAMPS   OF  BOLIVIA.  151 

If  there  are  diagonal  and  also  horizonal  counter  lines,  the  stamp  may 
be  from  either  Plates  III.,  IV.,  or  possibly  V.,  and  the  appearance  of  the 
breast  of  the  eagle  will  almost  enable  you  to  say  which  ;  but  if  in  doubt, 
the  other  characteristics  given  before  will  easily  dispose  of  the  point. 

If  there  are  only  horizontal  counter  lines,  the  stamp  may  possibly  be 
from  Plates  III.  or  IV.,  but  is  most  likely  to  be  from  Plates  V.  or  VI.;  and, 
though  a  little  more  difficult,  the  before-given  characteristics  will,  I  think, 
be  sufficient  to  determine  the  point.  If  there  are  no  lines  of  any  kind  other 
than  those  forming  the  globe  itself,  the  stamp  will  (if  in  the  green  colour) 
be  from  Plate  VI.,  or  possibly  from  Plate  VII. 

To  plate  the  stamps  is  a  task  which  everyone  would  not  care  to  under- 
take, and  of  course  it  involves  possession  either  of  a  photograph  or  of 
an  original  sheet  from  the  plate  to  which  the  stamp  belongs  ;  but  there  are 
several  portions  of  the  design  which  offer  material  assistance  in  the  work. 

1.  The  relative  position  of  the  four  ovals  containing  the  figures  of  value 
as  compared  with  the  four  words  of  the  inscription  between  them. 

2.  The  shape  of  the  wings  at  the  top  and  the  position  occupied  by  the 
outer  lines  at  the  bottom. 

3.  The  lines  of  shading  on  the  throat  and  on  the  breast. 

A  few  words  now  upon  the  illustrations  which  have  been  made  to 
accompany  this  paper,  and  for  which  I  am  indebted  to  the  kindness  of 
Mr.  M.  P.  Castle. 

Take  No.  i  of  Plates  I.  and  II.  The  markings  on  the  breast 
are  quite  different,  and  there  are  several  vertical  lines  on  the  body  in 
Plate  II.  which  are  not  to  be  found  in  Plate  I.  The  alteration  in  the 
diagonal  lines  on  the  globe  is  also  very  noticeable.  This  is  very  distinctly 
seen  in  Nos.  11  and  12,  while  in  No.  13  there  are  in  Plate  II.  traces  of 
the  old  lines  on  the  breast  of  the  eagle. 

In  Plate  III.,  Nos.  i  and  13  and  11  and  12,  you  will  observe  the  new 
horizontal  lines  on  the  globe,  and  also  how  very  white  and  open  is  the 
appearance  of  the  breast. 

In  Plate  IV.  the  breast  of  the  eagle  is  again  well  covered  with  new  lines 
of  shading.  The  dark  shadow  to  the  right  of  the  globe  is  so  thick  that  the 
diagonal  and  horizontal  lines  can  scarcely  be  distinguished  without  the  aid 
of  a  glass. 

In  No.  I  of  Plate  V.  four  short  horizontal  lines  about  the  centre  of  the 
breast  have  entirely  disappeared.  These  can  be  plainly  seen  in  Plates  II. 
and  III.,  and  there  are  distinct  traces  of  them  in  Plate  IV.  Two  similar 
lines  have  also  disappeared  from  No.  13.  In  Nos.  11  and  12  the  most 
prominent  feature  is  the  defective  condition  of  the  wings  in  Plate  V. 

In  Nos.  I  and  13  of  Plate  VI.  there  are  some  heavy  lines  of  shading  in 
the  throat  which  are  not  to  be  found  in  Plate  V. 

Nos.  I  and  13  of  Plate  VII.  are  practically  identical  with  the  same 
numbers  in  Plate  VI.,  and  there  is  very  little  difference  in  No.  12  ;  but 
if  you  turn  to  No.  1 1  you  will  at  once  observe  the  new  pinion  lines  which 
have  been  added  outside  the  right  wing. 

Examination  will  show  the  existence  of  many  other  differences  between 


152  THE  STAMPS   OF  BOLIVIA. 

similar  numbers  on  the  various  plates,  to  which  it  is  scarcely  necessary  to 
refer  in  further  detail  ;  but  I  would  like  to  draw  your  attention  to  the  very 
remarkable  variation  between  Nos.  ii  and  12  on  Plate  I.,  and  the  same 
numbers  in  the  yellow-green  colour  of  the  earliest  printing.  There  is  as 
great  a  difference  in  the  fineness  of  the  workmanship  in  these  as  there  is 
between  the  stamps  on  Plates  I.  and  II. 

Among  the  illustrations  you  will  also  find  a  specimen  of  one  stamp  from 
each  plate  which  has  been  previously  indicated  as  being  peculiar  to  that 
particular  date. 

10  Ceiitavos. — Passing  now  to  the  second  value  of  the  1866  issue,  namely, 
the  10  centavos  stamp,  it  will  be  seen  that,  while  the  design  has  the  same 
general  appearance,  there  are  several  material  differences.  The  globe  upon 
which  the  eagle  stands  is  partially  white,  and  the  lines  of  shading  on 
the  left  half  are  curved  upwards  ;  the  shading  inside  the  inscription 
oval  is  composed  of  vertical  lines  and  outside  the  oval  of  horizontal 
lines,  and  the  figures  of  value  are  contained  in  a  transverse  oval. 
It  has  been  stated  that  the  plate  was  badly  prepared,  being  too  much 
corroded  by  the  acid.  In  any  case,  the  impression  in  most  of  the  copies 
I  have  seen  is  terribly  blurred,  smudgy,  and  coarse,  and  though  some  few 
well-executed  specimens  are  to  be  found,  they  are  few  and  far  between. 
I  have  been  fortunate  enough  to  secure  three  of  the  finest  impressions 
I  have  ever  seen,  and  if  you  will  compare  them  with  most  of  the  others 
now  before  you,  you  will  be  better  able  to  appreciate  their  rarity  in  this  state. 

There  are  78  types  of  this  stamp  printed  in  6  rows  of  13  each.  To  plate 
them  is  no  easy  task.  Perhaps  the  most  useful  means  of  distinguishing  them 
are  the  variations  in  the  shape  of  the  white  space  left  in  the  throat  and  on 
the  breast  amidst  the  blotchy  patches  of  brown  colour  in  which  they  are 
printed. 

The  stamps  are  fairly  scarce.  It  is  said  that  the  unsuccessful  working  of 
the  plate  caused  the  stamp  to  be  given  up  after  only  a  few  copies  had 
been  printed,  and  you  will,  I  think,  realize  the  possible  truth  of  this  if  you 
endeavour  to  secure  any  quantity.  I  am  unable  to  say  whether  the  plate  was 
ever  retouched,  or  whether  all  the  stamps  issued  were  from  the  same  plate  in 
its  original  state.  I  have  never  seen  a  complete  unused  sheet,  and  even  if  the 
necessary  copies  were  accumulated  it  would  tax  the  patience  of  a  Job,  and 
strain  the  strongest  eyesight,  to  make  such  a  critical  examination  as  is 
possible  in  the  case  of  the  5  centavos.  I  fear,  therefore,  I  can  give  you  but 
little  information  of  value  as  regards  this  stamp,  forgeries  of  which,  however, 
may  be  detected  on  a  comparison  with  the  stamps  on  the  entire  sheet  or  a 
photograph  of  it. 

The  article  in  the  Stamp  Collectors  Magazine  for  1869  (before  referred  to) 
states  that  in  the  case  of  the  figure  "  10"  at  the  lower  right  angle  only  the 
"  I  "  is  to  be  seen  in  some  of  the  impressions,  the  cipher  being  missing.  This, 
however,  is  not  an  error  in  the  plate,  but  arises  from  defective  printing. 
The  figure  "  10"  in  this  position  is  complete  in  all  the  stamps  upon  the  plate 
in  the  Tapling  Collection. 

The  colour  of  the  stamps  varies  from  brown  to  a  very  dark  shade. 


THE   STAMPS   OF  BOLIVIA.  153 

50  Centavos. — The  design  of  this  value  is  the  same  in  nearly  all  respects  as 
for  the  10  centavos,  but  the  workmanship  is  much  finer.  The  only  differences 
are  in  the  figures  of  value,  which  are  not  contained  in  an  oval,  but  arc 
engraved  upon  the  horizontal  lines  of  the  background  ;  the  shading  on  the 
body  of  the  eagle  is  quite  distinct  from  either  of  the  two  preceding  values, 
the  lines  being  longer  and  curving  inwards  and  outwards. 

The  colour  was  at  first  yellow,  varying  from  orange  to  pale,  and  the  paper 
thick  wove.  The  change  of  colour  from  yellow  to  blue  took  place  at  the  same 
time  as  the  change  in  colour  of  the  5  centavos,  and  for  the  same  reason.  The 
paper,  however,  on  which  the  blue  stamps  were  printed  is  thinner,  and  it  is 
desirable  to  remember  this,  as  the  colour  of  the  yellow  stamps  has  been 
chemically  changed  to  blue,  in  which  there  is  a  distinct  yellow  tinge.  These 
stamps  were  engraved  in  sheets  containing  30  in  6  rows  of  5  each,  and  there 
does  not  appear  to  have  been  any  retouch  of  the  plate.  The  blue  colour, 
it  may  be  observed,  is  in  shades  both  light  and  dark,  but  not  in  the  slate-blue 
shade. 

100  Centavos. — This  value  completes  the  first  issue.  The  design  is  similar 
in  all  respects  to  that  of  the  50  centavos,  save  that  the  figures  of  value  are  in 
transverse  oval  similar  to  those  of  the  10  centavos. 

The  colour  in  the  first  instance  was  slate-blue  and  dark  blue,  subsequently 
changed  to  green  (light  and  dark  shades).  The  paper  is  thinner  for  the  green 
colour,  which  was  originally  considered  to  be  the  rarest  stamp  of  this  issue. 
Apparently,  however,  more  sheets  were  printed  than  was  supposed  ;  copies 
are  by  no  means  so  scarce  as  the  present  catalogue  price  would  lead  one  to 
suppose.  As  compared  with  the  other  values,  this  stamjj  is  marked  too  high, 
although  if  Bolivia  were  to  come  into  favour  with  collectors,  the  supply  of  all 
the  stamps  of  the  first  issue,  except  the  normal  types  of  the  5  centavos,  would 
soon  begin  to  get  short. 

Postmarks  of  the  First  Issue. 

It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  all  the  stamps  of  the  first  issue  were 
available  for  fiscal  as  well  as  for  postal  purposes,  as  may  be  seen  from  two 
of  the  words  of  the  inscription,  "  CONTRATOS "  and  "  CORREOS."  Un- 
doubtedly they  were  used  for  both  purposes,  and  sometimes  when  used 
fiscally  the  word  "  CORREOS "  in  the  inscription  was  struck  out.  Where 
there  is  ink  writing  or  pen  marks  the  stamps  have  in  all  probability  been 
used  fiscally. 

When  a  line  is  ruled  in  ink  straight  across  the  stamp,  this  indicates,  I 
think,  that  it  formed  part  of  a  remainder  which  were  so  cancelled  before 
being  disposed  of  This  treatment  of  remainders  would  naturally  tend  to 
increase  the  value  of  the  unused  stamps. 

The  only  postmarks  I  have  seen  are  : — 

(i)  A  large  double  circle  with  the  name  of  the  town  or  district  round 
the  outer  circumference,  and  with  date  in  centre.  This  is  struck  in  black 
and  in  red. 

(2)  Words  or  letters,  indicating  probably  the  name  of  some  place,  struck 
in  black. 


154  THE  STAMPS  OF  BOLIVIA. 

(3)  A  single  circle,  with  name  and  date. 

(4)  A  curiously-shaped  postmark,  seldom  seen,  in  the  form  of  an 
elongated  oval,  composed  of  numerous  short  lines,  all  curving  inwards. 
(Possibly  a  forgery.) 

As  regards  the  5  centavos  value,  postmarked  specimens  of  the  green 
colour  are  undoubtedly  much  rarer  than  the  unused  copies;  while,  as  regards 
the  lilac  colour,  the  value  is  about  equal,  and  the  same  comment  applies 
to  the   10  centavos  stamps. 

In  the  50  centavos  value  the  stamps  in  the  yellow  colour  are  much 
more  valuable  postmarked  than  unused,  and  this  also  applies  to  the  100 
centavos  in  the  slate-blue  and   dark  blue  shades. 

Postmarked  and  unused  copies  are  about  equally  valuable  in  the  50 
centavos,  blue,  and  the   100  centavos,  green,  issues. 

In  the  cases  of  all  the  stamps  of  this  issue,  pen-cancelled  and  remainder 
stamps  ought  to  stand  at  a  much  lower  level  than  either  unused  or  post- 
marked specimens. 

At  the  present  time  catalogue  prices  of  Bolivian  stamps  are  purely 
nominal,  and  do  not  correctly  represent  their  real  present  nor  their  com- 
parative value,  and,  as  there  is  very  little  demand  for  them,  it  should  be 
very  easy  for  a  collector  to  secure  a  fine  selection  at  a  very  moderate 
price. 

Forgeries  of  the  First  Issue. 

Speaking  generally,  the  forgeries  of  this  issue  are  such  poor  imitations 
that  no  one  is  likely  to  be  deceived  by  them  ;  and,  as  you  may  see  for 
yourselves  from  those  now  produced,  description  is  unnecessary. 

There  are,  however,  some  few  which  are  dangerous.  I  think  these  are 
probably  some  of  those  referred  to  in  the  issue  of  the  Metropolitan 
Philatelist  for  July,  1892.  I  am  told  that  these  forgeries  were  copied 
from  a  block  of  the  original  stamps,  and  consequently  it  is  only  a  certain 
number  of  the  types  that  have  been  reproduced.  The  printing  is  somewhat 
heavier,  but  it  has  also  a  more  scratchy  appearance.  It  is  difficult  to  give 
any  general  tests,  although  differences  can  be  found  upon  an  examination 
of  the  type  on  the  plate  from  which  the  forgery  has  been  taken. 
Fortunately,  however,  there  do  not  appear  to  be  many  of  these  about. 
There  are  also  forged  postmarks  on  the  50  centavos  stamps  in  the  yellow 
and  orange  colours. 


155      ] 


ON   THE  WORK  OF   THE   SEASON    1896-97. 

By  J.  A.  TILLEARD,  Honorary  Secretary. 

Read  at  the  AniNual  General  Meetinc;  ok  the  Society  on  Friday,  2ist  May,  1897. 


the  conclusion  of  that  period  of  the  year  devoted  to  the 
Society's  business,  it  is  once  more  my  duty  to  summarize 
the  result  of  the  work  and  events  of  the  season  1896-97,  a 
season  which  has,  I  venture  to  think,  been  characterized 
by  sound  and  steady  progress. 

The  year  has  been  specially  distinguished  in  the  history  of 
the  Society  from  those  which  have  gone  before  by  the  fact  that  the  Duke  of 
York  was  graciously  pleased,  on  the  occasion  of  the  last  Annual  General 
Meeting,  to  accept  the  position  of  President,  and  thus  to  associate  himself 
more  closely  with  us  as  the  actual  head  of  the  Society,  and  I  am  sure  that 
you  will  all  be  pleased  to  know  that  H.R.H.  has  intimated  his  consent 
to  continue  to  serve  in  the  same  capacity,  should  it  be  your  desire  that 
he  should  do  so. 

Since  the  date  of  my  last  report  I  regret  to  have  to  record  the  fact  that 
four  of  our  members  have  been  taken  from  us  by  the  hand  of  death. 

Mr.  Gilbert  Lockyer  had  been  a  member  of  our  body  for  many  years, 
and  through  his  contributions  to  Philatelic  literature  he  was  well  known 
outside  the  Society.  An  earnest  and  conscientious  student  of  Philately, 
ever  ready  to  give  the  benefit  of  his  great  experience  to  his  fellow-workers, 
his  loss  will  be  widely  felt. 

Mr.  T.  K.  Tiffany  had  also  been  associated  with  the  Society  for  a  number 
of  years.  Although  as  a  foreign  member  we  were  not  privileged  to  see  him 
at  our  meetings,  his  name  is  a  household  word  wherever  our  pursuit  is 
followed,  and  the  reputation  he  had  justly  gained  as  a  Philatelist  of  the 
highest  order  is  such  that  we  are  proud  to  have  been  able  to  number  him 
amongst  our  members.  In  his  own  country  he  held  the  foremost  position 
amongst  Philatelists,  and  his  loss  is  universally  deplored. 

Major  Adam  Smith,  owing  to  his  duties  calling  for  his  residence  in 
India  for  some  years  past,  was  possibly  known  personally  to  a  few  only 
of  his  fellow-members ;  but  those  of  us  who  had  the  pleasure  of  his 
acquaintance  will  agree  with  me  that  by  his  death  the  Society  has  lost 
a  member  whom  we  could  ill  afford  to  spare. 

Mr.  Bolland  was  one  of  our  younger  members.  Having  recently 
completed  his  university  career,  he  was  looking  forward  to  a  closer 
connection  with  the  Society,  and  his  untimely  death  has  robbed  us  of  one 
of  our  most  promising  recruits. 

By  resignation  the  number  of  members  has  been  further  reduced, 
Mrs.  Curteis,  Mr.  Cripps,  Mr.  Browse,  Mr.  C.  Harrison,  Mr.  Lumley  Cator, 


156  REPORT  OF   THE  PHILATELIC  SOCIETY,   LONDON. 

Mr.  Rubeck,  and  Mr.  Woodman  having  all  retired  from  the  Society.  Three 
names  have  also  been  removed  from  the  list,  making  a  total  reduction 
in  our  numbers  for  the  year  of  fourteen  members. 

The  new  members  elected  were :  Mr.  A.  Odell,  Mr.  G.  J.  Bailey, 
Mr.  B.  Loewy,  Mr.  A.  Rosenberg,  Mr.  R.  Frentzel,  Mr.  N.  H.  Withee, 
Mr.  J.  S.  O'Meara,  Prince  Doria  Pamphilij,  Mr.  A.  H.  Stamford,  Mr.  E.  H. 
Selby,  Mr.  W.  R.  Palmer,  Mr.  H.  J.  White,  Major  A.  B.  Maxwell,  and 
Mr.  F.  E.  Owen — fourteen  in  all — so  that  the  full  number  of  members 
at  the  present  time  is  296,  being  the  .same  as  at  the  end  of  the  previous 
year. 

In  the  course  of  the  season  twenty-seven  meetings  have  been  held, 
and  the  average  number  of  members  attending  has  been  sixteen,  showing 
a  small  increase  on  the  average  of  the  preceding  season. 

Papers  have  been  read  at  nine  of  the  meetings,  viz.,  by  the  Vice- 
President,  on  "The  1858  and  1859  Issues  of  Austria  and  Lombardy  "  ;  by 
Major  Evans,  on  "  The  Stamps  of  Mauritius "  (the  paper  being  divided 
into  two  portions,  read  on  separate  occasions) ;  by  Mr.  E.  D.  Bacon,  on 
"The  New  Zealand  Local  Posts  of  1856";  a  paper  communicated  by  Mr. 
Mottram  ;  by  Mr.  Meyer,  on  "The  Stamps  of  Lagos";  by  Mr.  Nankivell, 
on  "  The  Status  of  the  First  Printing  of  the  Transvaal  Stamps "  ;  by  Mr. 
Oldfield,  on  "  The  Advantages  of  Stamp  Collecting,"  as  well  as  an  important 
paper  on  "  The  Stamps  of  Bolivia " ;  by  Mr.  Gordon  Smith,  "  Notes  on 
the  Later  Issues  of  the  Transvaal "  ;  and  by  Dr.  R.  Stanley  Taylor,  on 
"  The  Stamps  of  Grenada." 

Five  evenings  have  been  devoted  to  discussions,  Mr.  Ehrenbach  under- 
taking the  opening  of  the  consideration  of  the  question  of  "  Minor  Varieties 
in  Stamps";  Mr.  Meyer  raising  the  questions  of  "Stamps  Cancelled  to  Order," 
and  the  "  Position  of  Reprints  Available  for  Postage " ;  Mr.  Silk  dealing 
with  "The  Best  Method  of  Arranging  a  Collection";  and  Mr.  Routledge 
discussing  "  The  Early  Stamps  of  the  Dutch  Colonies." 

The  members  introducing  the  discussions  have,  as  a  rule,  read  carefully- 
prepared  notes  on  the  subjects  dealt  with,  which,  although  unpublished,  are 
practically  additions  to  the  papers  read  during  the  season. 

A  special  feature  of  the  year  has  been  the  large  number  of  displays  of 
stamps  of  various  countries,  and  these  have  proved  a  great  attraction.  In 
most  cases  notes  were  prepared  and  read  by  the  member  giving  the  display, 
many  of  these  attaining  to  the  importance  of  a  paper  on  the  issues  of  the 
countries  under  consideration,  and  the  discussions  which  have  followed  the 
displays  have  been  of  the  greatest  interest  and  value  in  eliciting  information 
on  many  doubtful  points  in  the  history  of  the  stamps  shown. 

At  these  displays  Mr.  Ehrenbach  has  shown  his  collection  of  the  stamps 
of  "Russia,  Poland,  and  Russian  Levant,"  as  well  as  those  of  "Brazil";  Mr. 
Hall  has  taken  "  Peru,"  "Venezuela,"  and  the  "Type-set  Stamps  of  Tolima"; 
Mr.  Gordon  Smith,  the  stamps  of  "South  Australia";  Mr.  F.  W.  Ayer,  the 
"  St.  Louis  Stamps";  Mr.  Frentzel,  those  of  "  Mexico";  Mr.  Crowle,  the  issues 
of  "  Hawaii"  between  1853  and  1865,  including  the  interisland  stamps;  and 
Mr.  Oldfield,  the  envelopes  and  wrappers,  as  well  as  the  Cantonal  and  first 
Federal  issues  of  Switzerland. 


REPORT  OF   THE   PHILATELIC  SOCIETY,   LONDON.  157 

If  to  these  are  added  the  collections  of  the  stamps  of  "  Bolivia,"  shown  by 
Mr.  Oldfield  in  illustration  of  his  paper;  those  of  "Austria,"  shown  by  the 
Vice  -  President  on  the  reading  of  his  paper ;  the  stamps  of  "  Curasao, 
Surinam,  and  the  Dutch  Indies,"  produced  by  Mr.  Routledge  for  the 
purposes  of  his  discussion;  and  the  "Transvaal"  second  republic  stamps  and 
those  of  "  Lagos,"  shown  by  Mr.  Gordon  Smith  and  Mr.  Meyer  respectively 
on  the  reading  of  their  papers,  it  will  be  seen  that  on  no  occasion  of  late  years 
have  the  members  had  such  opportunities  of  inspecting  the  collections  of  their 
fellow-members  as  at  the  meetings  of  this  season. 

The  degree  of  excellence  attained  by  one  and  all  in  the  collections  shown, 
and  the  evidences  they  contain  of  careful,  earnest,  and  intelligent  work,  are 
convincing  proofs  of  the  high  standard  which  the  collector  of  the  present 
day  sets  before  him  in  the  studies  which  he  undertakes,  and  the  great 
advance  which  has  been  made  in  recent  years  in  "specializing." 

Where  all  take  such  high  rank,  it  is  perhaps  invidious  to  single  out  any 
one  collection  for  special  mention,  but  I  am  sure  I  shall  be  excused  for 
referring  to  that  of  the  stamps  of  "St.  Louis,"  which  we  were  privileged 
to  see  by  the  kindness  of  Mr.  F.  W.  Ayer,  as  it  is  probable  that  we  may 
never  have  the  opportunity  of  again  inspecting  so  absolutely  complete  and 
perfect  a  collection  of  these  most  interesting  stamps. 

In  dealing  with  the  meetings  I  must  not  omit  to  mention  the  very 
excellent  magic  lantern  display  of  stamps  which  Mr.  Ridpath  so  kindly 
arranged  for  us  early  in  the  season.  This  proved  an  unqualified  success  in 
every  respect,  and  I  trust  that  in  the  coming  season  it  may  be  found  possible 
to  organize  further  displays  of  a  similar  nature. 

I  regret  that  owing  to  an  exceptionally  busy  year  the  Publication 
Committee  have  not  been  able  to  arrange  for  the  completion  of  the  Society's 
work  on  the  stamps  of  the  African  Colonies.  It  is  intended  to  proceed  with 
the  remainder  of  the  book  during  the  recess,  and  I  trust  that  it  may  be 
possible  to  place  it  in  the  hands  of  members  before  our  meetings  are 
resumed. 

It  was  also  hoped  that  the  long-promised  book  on  the  stamps  of  Great 
Britain  would  have  been  published  during  the  season.  The  authors  appear 
to  have  encountered  considerable  difficulties  in  completing  the  MSS.  in  a 
manner  satisfactory  to  themselves ;  but  the  Publication  Committee  are  using 
every  endeavour  to  ensure  the  early  issue  of  the  work,  which  is  so  anxiously 
awaited  by  the  ever-increasing  number  of  specialists  in  the  stamps  of  our 
own  country. 

Our  thanks  are  again  due  to  the  members  of  the  Expert  Committee  for 
their  labours  during  the  past  year.  The  excellence  of  that  work  is  attested 
by  the  confidence  shown  by  Philatelists  in  the  decisions  of  the  Committee, 
and  the  continued  applications  made  for  certificates  in  cases  involving  any 
doubt  or  difficulty. 

The  accounts  and  balance-sheet  for  the  year  have  been  audited  and  will 
be  laid  before  you  this  evening,  with  the  Auditors'  Report.  The  improvement 
shown  last  year  has  been  maintained,  and  I  think  it  will  appear  that  the 
Society  is  in  a  sound  financial  position. 

The  Council  has  taken   into  consideration   the  question  of  "  commuted 


158  REPORT  OF   THE   PHILATELIC  SOCIETY,   LONDON. 

subscriptions,"  to  which  attention  has  on  more  than  one  occasion  been  called 
by  the  auditors  of  previous  accounts.  The  whole  subject  has  been  carefully 
reconsidered,  and  it  will  be  my  duty  to  submit  to  you  presently  a  series  of 
resolutions  in  regard  to  the  commutation  of  subscriptions,  in  pursuance  of 
notice  given  in  accordance  with  the  statutes. 

I  have  also  ventured  to  suggest  an  increase  being  made  in  the  number  of 
the  Council,  a  proposal  which  I  trust  may  meet  with  approval. 

At  this  meeting  the  Council  for  the  ensuing  year  has  to  be  elected,  and 
the  several  members  of  tlie  present  Council  are  willing  to  take  office  again 
should  it  be  your  pleasure  that  they  should  serve. 

It  has  been  suggested  on  several  occasions  that,  while  the  Society  is  not 
occupied  with  the  revision  of  reference  lists  of  stamps,  it  might  be  advisable 
to  revert  to  the  former  practice  of  holding  fortnightly  meetings.  This  is  a 
matter  which  is  worthy  of  consideration  in  view  of  the  numerous  calls  upon 
the  time  of  many  of  those  who  are  most  regular  in  their  attendance  at  our 
meetings,  and  I  have  proposed  a  resolution  for  an  alteration  of  the  statutes 
to  enable  the  meetings  in  each  season  to  be  regulated  by  resolution,  to  be 
passed  at  the  first  meeting  in  such  season. 

In  my  last  Report  I  referred  to  the  prospects  of  an  International  Phila- 
telic Exhibition  being  held  in  London,  or  the  neighbourhood,  in  the  present 
year.  This,  as  you  know,  will  be  held  in  the  month  of  July  next,  at  the 
Galleries  of  the  Royal  Institute  of  Painters  in  Water  Colours  in  Piccadilly, 
under  the  auspices  of  a  thoroughly  representative  committee,  and  with  the 
patronage  of  the  Royal  Dukes,  our  Honorary  President  and  the  President 
of  the  Council,  and  of  Her  Majesty's  Postmaster-General.  The  scheme  has 
met  with  general  approval,  and  the  support  received  will,  I  am  certain,  ensure 
complete  success. 

A  large  share  of  the  work  has  fallen  on  our  members,  and  the  Society, 
in  addition  to  joining  in  the  Guarantee  Fund  formed  for  providing  for 
the  expenses,  has  contributed  six  medals  for  competition  by  exhibitors  in 
several  of  the  classes  under  which  exhibits  will  be  shown. 

An  exhibition  on  such  a  scale  as  has  been  arranged  cannot  fail  to  prove 
of  the  highest  interest,  and  to  be  of  great  assistance  in  bringing  before  the 
notice  of  the  public  the  many  attractions  and  advantages  of  Philately,  and 
in  so  far  as  concerns  the  Society  I  anticipate,  as  one  of  the  results  of  the 
Exhibition,  a  large  accession  to  our  ranks. 

The  Annual  Dinner  of  the  Society  has  not  yet  been  held.  It  is  suggested 
that  it  should  take  place  during  the  period  of  the  Exhibition,  thus  affording 
an  opportunity  for  renewing  acquaintance  with  our  numerous  country 
members,  most  of  whom  will  no  doubt  visit  the  Exhibition  and  will  be 
able  to  attend  on  the  occasion  of  the  dinner. 

In  conclusion,  I  desire  once  again  to  acknowledge  with  tlianks  the 
courtesy  extended  to  me  on  all  hands,  and  the  great  assistance  afforded  to 
me  by  my  fellow-members  in  carrying  out  my  duties  as  your  Honorary 
Secretary. 

■    J.        T    "       I    L    _ 


[      159 


fljilatclit  iotts. 


Note.  —  The  co-operation  of  Philatelists  is  invited  in  order  to  make  this  column  oj  a  varied 

and  interesti)iz  nature. 


NIGER  COAST. 

E    are  indebted   to  Mr.  W.  Morley  for  the   following  inclusive,  if  not 
1  exhaustive,  list  of  the  Niger  Coast  perforations,  which  have  frequently 
been  the  subject  of  notes  in  our  columns. 

1893  Issue. 


Perf. 

14. 

I^etf.  12  fl/i  one  side,  perf.  14  ol/ier 

I'd.,  vermilion. 

sides. 

2d.,  green. 

i/-,  black,  thin  paper. 

2id  ,  carmine. 

Perf    12. 

5d.,  grey-lilac. 

2d.,  green. 

i/-,  black,  thin 

paper. 

P'^rf   12I. 

PiTf. 

15- 

2^d.,  carmine. 

I^d.,  vermilion. 

id.,  pale  blue. 
id.,  dark 

Perf   14! 
id.,  pale  blue. 

M.     \.^   «   J           X-*  H*  *     1*.                        *   • 

id.,  dark     „ 

2d.,  green. 

2id.,  carmine. 

2id.,  carmine. 

•^ 

Z        ' 

5d.,  bright  lilac. 

5d.,  grey-lilac. 
5d.,  bright  lilac 
i/-,  black,  thicl( 

i/-,  black,  thin  paper. 

:  white  paper. 

1/-      ,,        thick  white  paper. 

i/-,      „      thin 

paper. 

Perf   i4^x  15. 
^d.,  vermilion. 

Pei-f.    12 

X  14. 

id.,  pale  blue. 

id.,  pale  blue. 

id.,  dark     „ 

2d.,  green. 

2|-d.,  carmine. 

i    0 

i/-,  black,  thin 

paper. 

i/-,  black,  thick  paper. 

Perf.   12 

X15. 

i/-      „        thin  paper. 

i/-,  black,  thick  paper. 

Perf   i2i  X  14. 

Perf.   12^  X 

13  X  14. 

id.,  pale  blue. 

id.,  pale  blue. 

id.,  dark     „ 
2d.,  green. 

Perf    12 

X  12^. 

2gd.,  carmine. 

2d.,  green. 

i/-,  black,  thin  paper. 

1894 

[ssue. 

Perf.  14. 
^d.,  green,    white  paper, 
id.,  vermilion    ,,       ,, 
2d.,  lake  „       „ 

i/-,  black 

Perf    15. 
|d.,  pale  green,  white  paper, 
^d.,  dark  green  on  grey  paper. 


Perf   15. 

id.,  vermilion,  white  paper, 
id.,         do.        greyish  paper. 
2(1.,  pale  lake,  white  paper. 
2d.,  deep    ,,      greyish  paper. 
2^d.,  deep  blue,  white  paper. 
2id.,  pale      „ 
2|d.,  blue,  greyish  paper. 


i6o 


PHILATELIC  NOTES. 


Per/.   15. 

Perf.  14I  X  15. 

Sd.,  bright  purple,  white  paper. 

|d.,  pale  green. 

5d.,  deep 

id.,  vermilion. 

5d.,  purple,  greyish  paper. 

id.,  carmine. 

i/-,  black,  white  paper. 

2d.,  pale  lake. 

Perf.   14I. 

2d.,  deep    „ 

Jd.,  green. 

2|d.,  dark  blue. 

id.,  vermilion. 

2id.,  pale     „ 

2d.,  pale  lake. 

5d.,  bright  purple. 

2d.,  dark    „ 

5d.,  dark 

2jd.,  dark  blue. 

i/-,  black. 

2id.,  pale     „ 

Perf.  12  X  14. 

5d.,  bright  purple. 

id.,  green. 

5d.,  dark 

id.,  vermilion. 

i/-,  black. 

i/-,  black. 

Perf.  14x15. 

Perf.  \2\  X  14. 

-Jd.,  green. 

|d.,  green. 

Perf.  13X  14- 

i/-,   black. 

Id.,  green. 

Perf.  \2\  fop  and  sides ;   14  at  I'oitom 

i/-,  black. 

|d.,  green. 

m 


FORGERIES  OF  THE  185 1  AND  1854  ISSUES  OF  SPAIN. 
HERE  have  been  on  the  market,  notably  in  the  United  States,  a  number 
of  exceedingly  clever  and  dangerous  forgeries  of  some  of  these 
interesting  old  issues.  Several  specimens  have  passed  through  the  hands 
of  the  Expert  Committee  of  the  London  Philatelic  Society,  which  included 
copies  of  the  2  and  6  reales,  '  postmarked  "  together  "  on  the  original,"  that 
might  well  have  deceived  any  collector  who  had  not  been  forewarned.  The 
values  that  have  come  under  our  notice  are:  185 1,  2  and  6  reales;  1854, 
2  cuartos  and  i  real.  The  colours  of  the  imitations  in  general  leave  some- 
thing to  be  desired,  and  there  are  departures  from  the  originals  as  regards 
the  type  and  setting  up.  The  American  Journal  of  Philately  in  its  June 
number  gives  a  full  description  of  these  differences  (very  unwisely,  in  our 
judgment),  and  gives  enlarged  illustrations,  which  are,  however,  too  defective 
to  be  serviceable. 


M 


HAWAII,  U.S. 
HE  anticipated  cession  of  the  Hawaiian  Islands  to  the  United  States 
has  been  effected  this  month,  and  Philatelists  must  therefore  be 
prepared  to  sec  the  last  of  the  celebrated  "  Sandwich  Islands  "  stamps.  The 
Americans  have  always,  from  geographical  reasons,  considerably  affected  the 
collection  of  Hawaiian  stamps  ;  hence  the  first  issue  has  always  been  more 
in  evidence  on  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic  than  in  this  country.  The 
effect  of  the  fusion  will  probably  be  to  accentuate  this  predilection,  and  the 
Hawaiians  may  follow  the  example  of  the  "  boom  "  that  inflated  the  prices 
of  Heligoland. 


i6i 


#rrasi0iuil  MoUs. 


"XKo 


M 


THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION. 
HE  Opening  ceremony  on  July  22nd  will  take  place  at  3  p.m.,  but  all 
visitors  must  be  in  attendance  at  2.30,  after  which  hour  no  further 
admission  will  be  permitted.  Early  application  for  tickets  is  therefore 
desirable,  as  there  will  necessarily  be  no  admission  by  payment  at  the  doors. 
We  understand  that  facilities  will  be  given  at  the  Gallery  for  the  purchase  of 
tickets  up  to  a  reasonable  time  before  the  opening  ceremony.  We  are 
pleased  to  announce  that  H.R.H.  the  Duke  of  Saxe-Coburg-Gotha  has 
expressed  his  intention  to  accompany  H.R.H.  the  Duke  of  York,  should 
his  stay  in  the  Metropolis  extend  over  this  period. 

An  Evening  Instrumental  and  Vocal  Concert  and  Conversazione  will  be 
held  at  St.  Martin's  Town  Hall,  Charing  Cross  Road,  W.C,  on  Thursday, 
the  29th  day  of  July,  1897,  at  8.30  p.m.  Full  particulars  can  be  obtained 
at  the  Exhibition.  Mr.  Thomas  Ridpath  has  kindly  offered  to  give  a 
Philatelic  Lantern  Exhibition  during  the  Evening.  Tea,  coffee,  and  light 
refreshments  will  be  provided.  Evening  dress.  Tickets  can  be  obtained 
at  the  Exhibition,  or  on  application  to  the  Secretary,  J.  A.  Tilleard,  Esq., 
4,  Lombard  Court,  E.C.,  by  letter,  which  should  be  marked  "  Entertainment 
Committee."  Gentlemen's  tickets,  3s.  6d.;  Ladies',  2s.  6d.  Subscribers  to 
the  Exhibition  Fund  will  receive  tickets  for  this  concert  free  of  charge,  in 
accordance  with  the  circular  already  issued. 


THE  JUDGES  OF  THE  PHILA  TELIC  EXHIBITION. 

E  are  now  able  to  announce  the  complete  list  of  the  names  of  those 

gentlemen  who  have  kindly  consented  to  act,  and  it  is  with  especial 

gratification  that  we  note  the  acceptances  of  the  office  by  such  distinguished 

Philatelists  from  the  Continent  as  MM.  Breitfuss,  Fraenkel,  and  Mahe. 

The  following  is  therefore  the  complete  list  of  the 

Judges. 
Mr.  E.  D.  Bacon         .  .  .       London. 


St.  Petersburg. 

Brighton. 

London. 

Berlin. 

Paris 

London. 


Mr.  H.  Breitfuss 
Mr.  M.  P.  Castle,  J. P. 
Major  E.  B.  EVANS,  R.A. 
Dr.  A.  H.  Fraenkel 
M.  Pierre  Mahe 
Lieut.  F.  H.  Napier,  R.N. 

Dr.  Fraenkel  is  practically  the  foremost  collector  in  Berlin.  He  is  a 
distinguished  Philatelist  even  in  that  coterie  of  scientific  collectors  the 
Berlin  Philatelic  Club,  of  which  he  is  moreover  Librarian.  Dr.  Fraenkel 
is  a  retired  judge  and  the  head  of  a  leading  bank  in  the  German  capital. 
M.  Pierre  Mah^  is  the  custodian  of  the  collection  of  the  world — that  of  M. 
la  Renotiere  in  Paris.  To  allude  to  his  knowledge  of  Philately  is  altogether 
superfluous. 
66a 


i62  OCCASIONAL  NOTES. 

Mr.  Breitfuss  is  the  owner  of  one  of  the  most  valuable  collections  in 
the  world,  is  a  Philatelist  of  thirty  years'  standing,  and  has  a  consummate 
knowledge  of  all  classes  of  stamps.  It  would  be  difficult,  in  short,  to  select 
any  other  names  that  could  rival  these  Continental  members  of  the  jury. 
The  names  of  the  four   British  members  are  well   known  to  the  Philatelic 

community. 

♦ 

THE   TAPLING    COLLECTION. 
R.    E.    D.    Bacon    writes    to    inform    us    that    he    has    chancred    the 
stamps   in    the   cases    at    the    British    Museum,    the    following   being 
now  on   view :  New   Zealand,  First    South    African   Republic,  and   part   of 
those  of  the  Transvaal. 


M 


ANNUAL   DINNER   OF   THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  SOCIETY. 

HE  Annual  Dinner  of  the  London  Philatelic  Society  will  be  held 
at  "The  Monico,"  Shaftesbury  Avenue,  Piccadilly,  W.,  on  Tuesday, 
the  27th  July,  at  6.30  for  7  p.m.  The  price  of  tickets  (exclusive  of  wine) 
will  be  7s.  6d.  each,  both  for  members  and  their  friends.  Applications  should 
be  accompanied  by  remittance,  and  should  be  addressed  to  "Tjie  Dinner 
Committee,  Philatelic  Society,  Effingham  House,  Arundel  Street,  Strand." 

As  a  large  number  of  the  Society's  foreign  and  country  members  will  be 
in  London  for  the  Philatelic  Exhibition,  and  have  intimated  their  intention 
of  being  present,  it  is  hoped  that  as  many  of  the  London  members  as 
possible  will  make  it  convenient  to  meet  them. 


THE  COUNCIL  OF  THE  PHILATELIC  SOCIETY,  LONDON. 
ROM  a  perusal  of  the  minutes  it  will  be  seen  that  an  important 
accession  of  strength  has  been  made  to  the  Council  of  the  London 
Society.  The  number  of  members  has  increased  of  late  years  to  such  an 
extent  that  it  was  felt  necessary  to  make  the  Council  more  representative 
by  a  moderate  enlargement.  This  extension  has  met  with  unanimous 
approval,  as  it  introduces  the  names  of  Messrs.  W.  B.  Avery,  W. 
Doming  Beckton,  and  Gordon  Smith  to  fill  up  the  new  vacancies  created. 
Mr.  Avery's  qualifications,  as  the  possessor  of  the  finest  collection  in  the 
country,  are  obvious;  Mr.  Beckton  most  worthily  represents  the  best 
type  of  Philatelist  not  resident  in  the  metropolis ;  and  Mr.  Gordon  Smith's 
abilities  as  a  Philatelist  are  only  surpassed  by  his  popularity.  The  Council 
has  thus  distinctly  gained  in  strength  by  these  accessions,  and  the  new 
members  will  be  heartily  welcomed  by  their  confreres  of  longer  standing. 


FORGERIES.— MADE  IN  ITALY. 
T  is  with  considerable  satisfaction  that   we  are  enabled  to  record  the 
following  prompt  check  placed  upon  the  trading  ambitions  of  Signor 
lirasmus  Oneglia,   who  recently  arrived   in  this  country  from   sunny   Italy 
laden    with    forgeries    of  stamps,  which   he   was   desirous  of    selling   "  as 


OCCASIONAL   NOTES.  163 

imitations,"  or  probably  otherwise,  according  to  purchasers'  knowledge. 
The  satisfactory  result  of  the  proceedings,  a  report  of  which  we  append, 
is  largely  due  to  the  prompt  action  of  Messrs.  Stanley  Gibbons  (Ltd.), 
and  affords  yet  another  instance  (as  Colonial  stamps  were  included)  of  the 
assistance  that  the  authorities  receive  from  Philatelists,  in  return  for  which 
they  are  incessantly  and  needlessly  worried  over  the  question  of  illustrations. 

Erasmus  Oneglia,  described  as  a  general  merchant,  of  40,  Woburn  Place,  was 
charged  before  Mr.  Lushington,  at  Bow  Street,  on  the  7th  inst.,  with  having  in  his 
possession  certain  fictitious  stamps.  Mr.  B.  W.  Hawkins  prosecuted  for  the 
Inland  Revenue  authorities,  who  were  represented  by  Mr.   Dickins. 

Mr.  Hawkins  said  the  accused  was  charged  under  the  Post  Office  Act  with  having 
in  his  possession  a  number  of  fictitious  postage  stamps.  There  was  no  attempt 
on  his  part  to  pass  them  off  as  genuine  ones,  and  in  offering  them  for  sale  he 
freely  stated  that  they  were  only  imitations.  When  arrested  he  had  in  his  possession 
three  large  books  filled  with  stamps.  Some  of  them  were  copies  of  current  issues, 
and  some  were  copies  of  obsolete  issues.  At  prisoner's  rooms  in  Woburn  Place 
were  found  about  4000  more  stamps. 

Mr.  AVilliam  Jones,  Manager  to  Stanley  Gibbons  &:  Co.,  dealers  in  stamps  gave 
evidence  of  the  sale  to  him  by  the  prisoner  of  a  number  of  stamps  similar  to  those 
seized  by  the  police. 

Detective-Inspector  Conquest,  of  Scotland  Yard,  said  he  arrested  the  prisoner. 
When  told  what  he  was  charged  with,  he  said  he  did  not  know  he  was  doing  wrong. 

Prisoner  (through  an  interpreter)  now  said  that  as  jewellers  were  allowed  to  sell 
imitation  gold  and  imitation  diamonds,  he  thought  he  had  a  right  to  sell  imitation 
stamps. 

Mr.  Lushington  said  the  accused  had  evidently  acted  in  ignorance.  He  was 
liable  to  a  penalty  of  ^^20,  but  on  this  occasion  would  only  be  fined  20s.;  but  all 
the  stamps  in  his  possession  likely  to  defraud  the  Post  Office  authorities  and  defraud 
the  Revenue  would  be  forfeited. 


THE  PRINCE  OF  WALES'S  HOSPITAL  FUND  FOR  LONDON. 


mM 


HEIR  Royal  Highnesses  the  Prince  and  Princess  of  Wales  and  the 
Princess  Victoria  visited  the  works  of  Messrs.  De  La  Rue  &  Co.,  in 
Bunhill  Row,  on  the  28th  of  last  month,  to  inspect  the  process  of  printing 
the  Hospital  Fund  Stamps,  the  limited  issue  of  which  is  now  nearly  com- 
pleted. There  were  present  the  following  members  of  the  Organising 
Committee  of  the  Fund  :  Lord  Rowton,  Sir  Saville  Crossley,  Mr.  C.  Stuart 
Wortley,  Q.C.,  M.P.,  Mr.  Henry  C.  Burdett,  and  Mr.  J.  G.  Craggs.  Mr. 
J.  S.  Purcell,  C.B.,  Controller  of  Stamps,  was  also  present.  Their  Royal 
Highnesses  were  received  by  Mr.  Thomas  De  La  Rue  and  Mr.  Ernest 
De  La  Rue,  and  were  conducted  to  the  floor  upon  which  the  stamps  arc 
being  printed.  Passing  through  one  of  the  numerous  departments,  the 
Royal  party  entered  a  small  room  at  the  end,  in  which  are  the  three  hand 
machines  by  which  the  Hospital  Stamps  are  being  printed.  Their  Royal 
Highnesses  evinced  great  interest,  and  closely  inspected  the  operations 
connected  with  the  production  of  some  of  the  sheets,  and  the  Prince 
afterwards  signed  a  double  sheet  of  the  is.  stamps,  the  printing  of  which 
he  witnessed.  It  will  be  brought  home  to  the  public  how  slow  this 
process  is  when  we  explain   that  the   2s.   6d.   stamps  are  printed  on  one 


i64  OCCASIONAL   NOTES. 

machine  only,  while  the  is.  stamps  are  printed  from  the  other  two 
machines,  to  each  of  which  there  is  only  one  attendant,  and  the  work  is 
entirely  done  by  hand.  Mr.  Thomas  De  La  Rue,  Mr.  Purcell,  and  Mr. 
Burdett,  the  three  gentlemen  who  have  so  closely  devoted  themselves  to 
the  production  of  the  stamps,  alternately  explained  the  process  of 
printing,  etc.  After  the  Prince  and  Princess  of  Wales  and  Princess 
Victoria  had  signed  Mr.  De  La  Rue's  autograph  album,  His  Royal 
Highness  presented  Mr.  Stuart  Wortley  and  Mr.  J.  G.  Craggs  to  the 
Princess.     The  Prince  then  said  : — 

"  Before  going  I  wish  to  say  how  very  much  I  have  been  interested  in 
seeing  this  process  of  printing  the  stamps,  and  I  most  earnestly  hope  that 
the  working  classes  will  buy  as  many  of  them  as  possible,  because  in 
doing  so  it  will  afford  them  an  opportunity  of  giving  is.  to  the  Hospital 
Fund,  and  they  will  always  have  a  souvenir  of  the  Queen's  Commemora- 
tion by  obtaining  one  of  these  stamps." 


SUNDRY  PHILATELIC  PUBLICATIONS. 
||f,  have  to  acknowledge  copies  of  the  Catalogues  of  Mr.  E.  M.  Rubens 
and  of  the  Liter  national  of  Messrs.  Mekeel.  Both  are  primarily 
issued  for  the  trade  purposes  of  those  respective  publishers,  and  therefore 
call  for  scant  comment  at  our  hands.  The  former  inflates,  frequently  to 
a  ridiculous  figure,  the  especial  stamps  he  has  to  sell,  and  only  in  Scandi- 
navian stamps  presents  any  pretence  to  completeness  as  a  catalogue,  although 
even  here,  as  in  Finland,  it  is  vastly  deficient.  Messrs.  Mekeel's  Catalogue 
only  gives  face  varieties,  and  is  intended  to  encourage  the  beginner.  With 
this  view  all  the  pence  values  of  Ceylon  only  include  twenty-four  varieties, 
but  United  States,  including  grilles,  etc.,  extend  to  twenty-four  pages,  and 
Mexican  fiscals  to  twenty  more.     Further  comment  is  hardly  required  1 


m 


A  ''CORNER"  ROUNDED  OFF.' 
URING  a  visit  to  Monte  Carlo  in  the  foregoing  winter  we  became  aware 
for  the  first  time,  through  a  visit  to  the  local  post  office,  that  the  75  c. 
of  the  current  type  had  been  withdrawn  from  circulation.  Subsequent 
experiences  on  the  Continent  and  in  this  country  revealed  the  fact  that, 
although  it  was  rumoured  that  a  large  stock  was  in  certain  hands,  there  were 
absolutely  none  on  sale,  everyone  having  reserved  their  copies  for  the  rise. 
The  price  is  not  even  quoted  in  the  new  Stanley  Gibbons'  Catalogue !  We 
have  heard  of  prices  quoted  from  los.  to  50s.,  and  the  former  seemed  the 
accepted  "standard"  on  the  Riviera.  It  appears,  however,  that  now  the 
holder  of  the  stock  has  loosened  his  financial  grasp,  and  that  the  market  is 
now  amply  supplied  at  a  moderate  percentage  over  face  value.  This 
tendency  to  speculate  and  corner  is  baneful  in  every  way  to  Philately,  and 
we  rejoice  therefore  to  think,  in  this  case,  that  many  of  the  "  serpent  tribe  " 
will  be  made  to  smart.  We  should  like  to  see  a  similar  result  as  regards  the 
find  of  Nova  Scotians,  which  are  palpably  over-priced,  and  if  reduced  would 
benefit  sellers'  and  buyers'  interests. 


OCCASIONAL  NOTES.  165 

THE  GERMAN  CRUSADE  AGAINST  PRICES. 
(ALLOWING  in  the  wake  of  Juds^re  Lindenberg,  of  Berlin,  Dr.  Moschkau, 
in  the  columns  oi  Der Philatelist,  has  latterly  been  wailing  about  the  in- 
crease of  prices  and  the  approaching  death  of  Philately  in  consequence  thereof. 
Less  fortunate,  however,  than  his  colleague  of  Berlin,  the  Doctor  has  brought 
down  upon  himself  some  adverse  criticism  at  the  hands  of  Messrs.  Rein- 
heimer  &  Freudenstein,  of  Frankfort,  which  to  us  appear  to  effectually  dispose 
of  the  Doctor's  previous  "arguments."  Replying  in  the  June  number  of 
the  above  journal,  Dr.  Moschkau  occupies  no  less  than  nine  columns ;  but 
we  fail  to  see  anything  convincing  or  <:>{ practical  \x'i\X\X.y  in  his  "reply."  We 
have  the  highest  respect,  in  a  Philatelic  sense,  for  Dr.  Moschkau,  but  we  are 
tempted  to  ask.  What  is  his  personal  experience,  say  during  the  past  ten 
years,  in  the  acquisition  of  really  fine  or  rare  stamps  ?  The  Doctor's  plau- 
dereien  are  so  obviously  saturated  with  his  esteemed  personality  that  we  may 
be  forgiven  for  putting  the  matter  in  this  light.  We  would  contrast  two  points 
in  his  reply,  i.  In  order  to  rehabilitate  Philately,  he  urges  abstention  from 
specializing,  except  to  a  limited  degree,  and  the  adoption  by  all  of  general 
collecting,  including  cut  eiivelopes !  Why  not  include  cut  post  cards  too  ? 
This  would  be  absolutely  certain  to  save  Philately  from  impending  dissolu- 
tion !  In  our  humble  judgment  the  general  collector  makes  "  stamp 
collecting,"  and  the  specialist  creates  Philately ;  hence  we  are  absolutely 
opposed  to  our  Teutonic  confrere.  2.  Perhaps  for  want  of  argument,  Dr. 
Moschkau,  in  his  nine  columns,  requotes  all  the  various  prophecies  and 
fulminations  that  have  emanated  from  august  Berlin  as  to  the  impending 
"  slump  " — i)iter  alia — "  The  stamps  that  nobody  has  do  not  rise,  but  only 
those  that  the  many  have  got,  namely,  dealers  and  speculative  collectors." 
Disregarding  the  obvious  bull,  this  is  sound  sense,  and  nearly  meets  the 
whole  question.  Instead  of  pages  of  diffuse  diatribes,  which  necessarily 
alarm,  the  small  collector,  why  not  set  to  zvork  to  advise  them  which  stamps 
are  too  highly  priced,  and  for  ivhat  reasons?  There  is  no  lack  of  countries 
which  include  some  too  highly-priced  stamps.  Heligoland,  Saxony, 
Baden,  Bremen,  Wurtemberg,  Oldenburg,  Nevis,  West  Indians  (later 
issues).  Nova  Scotia  (remainders) — to  name  only  a  few — are  all  instances 
where  an  ounce  of  practical  pricing  would  be  worth  a  pound  of  prosy 
preaching.  On  the  contrary,  perhaps  the  learned  Doctor  will  advise 
others  where  to  buy  cheaply  simple  European  unused  stamps,  such  as 
Alsace  5  c.  inverted  net,  the  Wurtembergs  perf.  13  on  thick  paper,  the 
early  2d.  perforated  English,  or  the  first  issue  of  Thurn  and  Taxis,  most 
of  which  are  "  priced  "  in  Continental  catalogues,  and  are  doubtless  to  be 
found  in  the  albums  of  the  general  collectors  whom  the  learned  Doctor  so 
sagaciously  counsels  to  "  close  your  pockets  and  open  your  eyes."  Dr. 
Moschkau  is  evidently  a  Philatelic  Rip  Van  Winkle,  and  like  that  amiable 
character  has  apparently  closed  both  his  pockets  and  his  eyes  for  many 
a  long  year.  The  wealthy  or  advanced  collector  can  protect  himself,  it 
is  the  smaller  and  medium  collector  that  looks  for  guidance  at  the 
editorial  hands ;  but  only  harm  is  done  by  penning  alarmist  statements  of 
a  general  nature  instead  of  practical  advice. 


1 66  OCCASIONAL  NOTES. 

THE  NINTH   GERMAN  PHILATELIC  CONGRESS. 

AMBURG    is  the  chosen  city  for  this  year's  meeting  of   collectors   and 
dealers    known   as  the    "  Philatelisten    Tag,"   and    a   more   charming 


or  suitable  locale  could  not  have  been  selected.  The  dates  fixed  are  the 
24th  to  26th  of  July,  and  as  usual  a  very  full  programme  of  instruction 
and  amusement  has  been  provided,  although  probably  the  latter  will  pre- 
dominate. As  the  London  Philatelic  Exhibition  will  be  then  in  full  swing, 
several  accustomed  visitors  from  this  country  will  be  prevented  from 
attending ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  we  quite  anticipate  that  there  will  be  many 
of  our  Continental  friends  who  will  come  on  to  London  from  Hamburg.  In 
the  summer  the  voyage  is  a  delightful  one,  and  there  will  be  ample  recom- 
pense for  the  journey  in  the  Gallery  of  the  Royal  Institute  of  Painters. 


AUSTRALIAN   NOTES. 
BY    OUR    SPECIAL    CORRESPONDENT. 

|[OR  some  time  past  the  question  of  bringing  out  a  new  issue  to 
supersede  the  Centennial  stamps  of  New  South  Wales  has  been 
under  consideration,  but  postponed  from  one  cause  or  another  until  within 
the  last  few  weeks. 

The  coming  celebration  of  the  sixtieth  anniversary  of  Her  Majesty's 
accession  has  been  taken  advantage  of  to  make  a  preliminary  step  in  the 
direction  of  a  new  series.  The  limited  time  at  the  disposal  of  the  authorities 
has  prevented  the  preparation  of  a  complete  series  ;  but  three  of  the  values 
most  in  use,  viz.,  the  id.,  2d.,  and  2|d.,  are  to  form  the  first  instalment  of 
what  will  doubtless  be  an  entirely  new  set  in  the  course  of  time. 

It  is  not  intended  to  make  the  occasion  one  for  the  issue  of  an 
ephemeral  commemorative  series,  but  the  new  stamps  will  entirely  super- 
sede the  current  ones  of  the  same  denominations,  and  it  is  hoped  that  no 
necessity  will  arise  for  some  years  at  least  to  alter  the  design. 

This,  as  appears  from  newspaper  cuttings  I  sent  you  last  mail,  is  to  consist 
of  a  profile  portrait  of  Her  Majesty,  enclosed  in  a  simple  frame,  inscribed 
"  New  South  Wales  Postage,"  and  bearing  the  value  expressed  in  figures  only. 
In  response  to  the  advertisement  for  designs,  over  360  separate  drawings 
were  sent  in  by  140  competitors.  As  might  have  been  expected,  a  very 
large  proportion  were  quite  unsuitable,  either  from  defective  drawing  or 
design,  or  from  inadaptability  to  the  process  of  electro  -  typography. 
However,  an  advisory  committee,  consisting  of  two  representative  artists — 
the  Acting  Deputy  Postmaster-General  and  the  Government  printer — have 
succeeded  in  narrowing  the  suitable  designs  down  to  twelve,  which  will 
be  reduced  by  photography,  and  from  which  the  final  selection  will  be  made. 
Some  of  the  designs  are  of  the  highest  degree  of  excellence  in  the 
accuracy  of  portraiture  and  the  artistic  nature  of  the  drawing,  but  of  course 
no  very  great  originality  is  displayed  owing  to  the  limited  scope  afforded 
by  the  published  conditions.  Still  it  may  safely  be  predicted  that  the 
new  type  will  be  at  least  an  improvement  upon  the  current  stamps,  both 
in  design  and  execution. 

Mr.  W.  A.   GuUick,  the  recently- appointed   Government   printer,  comes 


OCCASIONAL  NOTES.  167 

from  the  establishment  of  the  leading  firm  of  engravers  and  printers, 
Messrs.  John  Sands  &  Co.,  of  Sydney,  and  he  is  devoting  considerable 
time  and  attention  to  improving  the  execution  of  the  postage  stamps. 
The  recently-issued  gd.  and  lod.  are  striking  examples  of  what  can  be 
effected  by  the  use  of  modern  materials  and  a  little  care  in  printing. 
Mr.  Gullick  intends  to  apply  his  up-to-date  knowledge  to  the  production 
of  work  that  will  be  a  credit  both  to  his  department  and  the  Colony. 

Another  feature  in  the  commemorative  issue  will  be  the  resuscitation 
of  that  truly  artistic  and  striking  stamp,  the  circular  5s.  Designed  by 
Mr.  S.  Levinge,  a  former  official  of  the  Sydney  General  Post  Office, 
and  engraved  by  Perkins,  Bacon  &  Co.,  of  London,  this  stamp  served  all 
the  requirements  of  the  Colony  for  such  a  high  value  from  1861  to  18S6, 
when  the  anticipated  demand  for  a  large  number  for  prepayment  of  telegrams 
led  to  the  issue  of  the  provisional  formed  from  the  fiscal  stamp  surcharged 
"  Postage."  The  steel  plate  is  still  in  good  condition,  and  barely  shows  any 
sign  of  wear.  It  will  probably  be  printed  in  "regal"  purple  on  the  latest 
surcharged  paper,  and  the  effect  should  be  entirely  satisfactory. 

The  letter  cdrd  has  recently  been  printed  on  a  new  variety  of  paper,  of  a 
rather  paler  shade  of  drab,  but  the  inside  is  of  an  intense  pink.  Amongst 
the  contemplated  improvements  in  printing  there  is  a  scheme  for  printing  the 
post  and  letter  cards  from  electrotypes,  instead  of  by  lithography  as  hitherto. 
The  new  process  will  undoubtedly  effect  a  change  for  the  better  in  clearness 
and  sharpness  of  the  design. 

The  first  of  the  Queensland  adhesive  stamps  to  receive  the  further 
"adornment"  of  figures  in  the  upper  angles  is  the  2d.  I  have  only  seen  a 
single  copy,  so  cannot  say  how  many  varieties  of  type  there  are  in  the  sheet ; 
but  judging  from  the  fact  that  each  of  the  four  figures  is  separately  drawn 
and  differently  shaped,  I  have  some  reason  to  believe  that  there  will  be 
at  least  the  usual  blocks  of  four  varieties.  The  3d.,  4d.,  6d.,  and  is.  have  not 
yet  lost  the  shading  in  the  background,  but  doubtless  this  will  come 
eventually,  and  the  four  figures  will  be  added  at  the  same  time. 

The  IS.  is  now  printed  in  a  distinct  shade  of  reddish  violet,  and  the  paper 
appears  to  be  much  thicker,  both  for  this  value  and  the  ^d. 

The  issue  of  the  New  Hebrides  Interinsular  stamps  marks  an  important 
stride  in  the  march  of  Australian  progress  in  the  Pacific.  It  is  true  that  they 
emanate  from  a  company  and  not  from  a  Government,  but  it  is  significant 
that  the  company  is  an  Australian  one  with  its  head  office  in  Sydney. 
Many  years  ago  the  question  of  issuing  a  series  of  stamps  for  the  New 
Hebrides  was  mooted  in  Sydney,  but  the  Government  were  loath  to  move  in 
the  matter  owing  to  the  political  aspect  of  the  question.  However,  the 
company  are  not  bound  by  any  such  rules  of  international  etiquette, 
and  their  progressive  action  will  at  least  have  the  effect  of  extensively 
advertising  the  strong  hold  British  interests  have  gained  in  the  Pacific. 

Australian  Federation  has  advanced  another  step.  The  Convention  has 
completed  the  draft  Commonwealth  Bill,  and  it  has  now  to  be  passed  by  the 
Parliaments  of  the  respective  States,  and  then  accepted  or  rejected  by 
the  people.  There  is  some  ground  for  considering  that  New  South  Wales 
will  not  accept  it  in  its  present  form,  but  matters  may  be  satisfactorily 
adjusted  during  its  passage  through  Parliament.  In  case  it  is  finally  accepted 
there  will  of  course  be  one  uniform  series  of  stamps  for  the  commonwealth. 


t   it 


Ucln  Issues. 


NOTES   OF   NEW^,    AND    VARIATIONS  OF   CURRENT,    ISSUES. 
(Varieties  of  Obsolete  Stamps,  and  Discoveries,  will  be  found  under  "Philatelic  Notes.") 

ITe  do  not  profess  to  chronicle  everything,  but,  with  the  kind  help  of  correspondents,  are  desirous  that 
all  the  important  novelties  may  be  included.  Speculative  stamps — i.e.  those  not  really  required  for 
postal  purposes — will  be  considered  o)i  their  merits,  and  Jubilee  issues  will  not  be  chronicled. 

Members  of  the  London  Philatelic  Society,  aiul  other  readers  generally,  are  invited  to  co-operate  with  us 
in  making  the  columns  as  interesting  as  possible.  Our  foreign  readers  can  especially  help  us  in 
tills  direction,  by  sending  copies  of  any  official  documents  relative  to  changes  in  the  current  issues, 
or  early  intimation  of  any  new  issue,  accompanied,  when  possible,  by  a  specimen  ;  such  information 
will  be  duly  credited  to  the  correspondent,  and,  if  desired,  the  specimen  promptly  reltirned. 
Address:   EDITOR  "LONDON  PHILATELIST,"  EFFINGHAM   HOUSE,  ArUNDEL  STREET,  STRAND, 

London,  W.C. 


BRITISH     EMPIRE. 

British  Central  Africa. — News  is  to 
hand  from  Messrs.  Whitfield  King  &  Co. 
that  the  "nigger"  type  on  watermarked 
paper  is  already  unaccountably  obsolete,  a 
new  issue  having  been  sent  out  by  Messrs. 
De  La  Rue  &  Co.  When  the  watermark 
was  added  to  the  "  nigger"  set,  in  December 
last,  the  entire  remainders  of  the  unwater- 
marked  stamps  were  burnt  by  order  of  the 
Government,  and  our  correspondents  inform 
us  that  all  the  remainders  of  the  water- 
marked series  have  now  been  submitted  to 
the  same  fiery  ordeal ! 

Just  as  we  go  to  press  we  learn  from  the 
/.  B.J.  some  further  particulars  of  the  new 
issue.  The  design  is  very  similar  to  the 
previous  one — the  "niggers''  are  placed  upon 
a  shield  with  ground  unshaded  ;  the  motto 
"  Light  in  Darkness  "  has  been  omitted,  and 
the  surrounding  frame  is  altered  to  read 
"  British  Central  Africa,"  in  one  curved  line 
of  white  capitals  on  a  solid  ground  at  top  ; 
while,  in  the  case  of  the  values  up  to  is.  the 
value  is  placed  in  the  centre  of  the  base,  on 
a  framed  tablet  of  colour,  and  in  the  higher 
values  reads  straight  across  the  base  on  a 
straight  band.  "  Postage  and  Revenue  "  at 
either  side  of  the  shield  ;  wmk.  Cr.  CA  up 
to  IS.,  Cr.  C  C  beyond  ;  perf.  14. 

Aii/u'sivL-s.     id.,  uUramarinc  and  black  (centre). 

2d.,  yellow  ,, 

4d.,  carmine  ,, 

6d.,  sea-green  ,, 

IS.,  lilac  ,, 
2S.  6c!.,  ultramarine        ,, 

3s.,  sea-green  ,, 

4s.,  carmine  ,, 

£1,  lilac  ,, 

XJio,  yellow  ,, 


Canada. — We  are  indebted  to  Messrs. 
Whitfield  King  &  Co.  for  a  copy  of  the 
Montreal  Star  under  date  May  21st.  From 
the  Parliamentary  report  in  the  same  we 
extract  the  following  information  regarding 
the  issue  of  postage  stamps  in  commemora- 
tion of  the  Queen's  Jubilee. 

"  Mr.  Gibson  asked  : — 

1.  Is  it  intended  by  the  Post  Office  Department 
to  issue  a  set  of  Jubilee  postage  stamps? 

2.  Will  such  stamps  be  put  into  public  use,  and 
what  course  will  be  adopted  whereby  the  public 
may  purchase  such  stamps  ? 

3.  Will  there  be  any  limit  to  the  quantity  to  be 
issued  ? 

4.  Of  what  various  denominations  will  such 
issue  consist  ? 

5.  What  amount  of  each  denomination  will  be 
issued  ? 

6.  What  steps  will  be  taken  to  limit  the  number 
to  be  issued  ? 

Mr.  Murlock  replied  : — 

The  Department  was  about  "to  issue  Jubilee 
stamps,  aud  the  public  would  procure  them  in  the 
ordinary  course  from  the  postmasters  throughout 
the  country.  The  quantity  would  be  limited,  and 
the  issue  would  be  as  follows  :— 

150,000  half     cent  stamps. 
8,000,000  one         ,,         ,, 
2,000,000  two        ,,         ,, 
20,000,000  three       ,,         ,, 
750,000  live 
750,000  six  „ 

200,000  eight      ,,         ,, 
150,000  ten 

100,000  fifteen    ,,         ,, 
100,000  twenty    ,,  ,, 

100,000  fifty        ,, 
25,000  each  of  $1,  $2,  $3,  $4,  $5, 
besides  seven  millions  of  one  ctnt  post  cards. 


AEll^  /SSUES. 


169 


These  stamps  would  be  sent  to  the  central 
distributing  post  offices  on  June  22nd,  and  from 
such  centres  the  smaller  offices  would  be  supplied. 
The  issue  would  alone  be  sufficient  for  the  service 
for  a  period  of  three  months,  but  the  stamps 
would  be  in  use  much  longer,  as  the  ordinary 
stamps  would  continue  to  be  issued  and  used  at 
the  same  time.  When  the  issue  had  been  printed 
the  plates  would  be  destroyed  in  the  presence 
of  officers  from  the  Postal  and  Finance  Depart- 
ments.   The  stamps  would  be  printed  in  Ottawa." 

The  same  paper  gives  an  illustration  of 
the  three  cent  stamp,  the  same  being  of 
oblong  rectangular  shape,  divided  down  the 
centre  by  a  Crown  and  the  letters  "V.R.I." 
On  either  side  of  this  is  a  portrait  of  the 
(2ueen  in  an  oval,  underneath  which  are  the 
figures  "  1837,  1897."  "CANADA  postage" 
at  the  top,  "  THREE  cents"  on  a  white  tablet 
at  base,  the  corners  being  filled  in  with 
ornaments.  The  action  of  the  Dominion 
Government  in  this  matter  is  to  be  regretted, 
but  it  is  some  small  mercy  that  the  extent 
of  the  issue  is  apparently  large  enough  to 
stop  any  speculation  —  if  such  was  to  be 
expected. 

India. — The  A.  J.  of  Ph.  announces  a 
new  shade  for  the  i  anna  adhesive,  this 
value  being  printed  in  maroon  in  place  of 
violet -brown.  The  official  stamp  has  also 
been  issued  in  the  same  colour. 

Ad/icsive.     I  anna,  maroon. 
Oji/lcial  Stamp,     i      ,,  ,,       black  surcharge. 

Indian  Native  States.— //f/Z-a;-.— The 
issue  of  three  new  varieties  of  the  current 
type  is  announced. 

Adhesivcs.     2  annas,  green. 
4      „      violet. 

8       ,,       ultramarine. 

Mauritius. — Messrs.  Whitfield  King  & 
Co.  have  sent  us  a  new  4  cents  stamp, 
being  of  the  "Arms"  type,  but  with  the 
value  printed  in  a  separate  colour  from  the 
remainder  of  the  stamp.  From  the  same 
source  we  also  hear  that  two  envelopes  of 
18  c.  and  36  c.  have  been  issued,  both  bear- 
ing stamps  of  the  new  "Arms  "  type. 

The  /.  B.  J.  adds  the  i  c,  2  c,  and  18  c. 
adhesives  in  the  same  type. 

AiiUcsives.     i  cent,  lilac  and  blue. 

2  cents,  lilac  and  orange. 
4      ,,      lilac  and  green  ;  perf.  14. 
18      ,,      green  and  blue. 

Envelopes.     18  cents,  blue  on  zuhiie. 
36      ,,      brown        ,, 

New  Hebrides.— Mr.  A.  F.  Basset  Hull 
sends  us  the  following  information  regarding 
a  postal  service  instituted  in  these  islands. 
The    stamps— two    in    number — are    of    the 


same  size  as  those  in  use  for  the  Congo 
State,  and  are  described  herein  : — 

"  The  Australasian  New  Hebrides  Com- 
pany was  formed  in  1887,  and  its  operations, 
at  first  very  small,  have  grown  to  an 
enormous  extent. 

"During  1892-3  a  steamer  belonging  to 
the  Australian  United  Steam  Navigation 
Company  ran  through  the  New  Hebrides 
group,  carrying  cargo,  passengers,  and 
mails.  This  service  was  subsidized  by  the 
Governments  of  New  South  Wales  and 
Victoria,  but  the  subsidies  ceased  in  1894. 
At  this  time  the  operations  of  the  Austral- 
asian New  Hebrides  Company  had  increased 
to  such  an  extent  that  they  purchased  a 
steamer  and  inaugurated  an  interisland 
service. 

"  Subsequently  a  direct  steam  service  to 
and  from  Sydney  and  Port  Vila  was  added, 
and  the  steamer  now  leaves  Sydney  at 
intervals  of  three  weeks,  connecting  with 
the  interisland  steamer,  which  makes  a  tour 
of  the  group,  occupying  the  three  weeks 
between  the  visits  of  the  direct  steamer. 

"The  New  Hebrides  are  at  present 
neutral  ground,  under  the  joint  control  of 
England  and  France ;  but  these  powers,  as 
a  rule,  only  take  action  in  criminal  matters. 
The  Australian  New  Hebrides  Company, 
being  the  only  British  company  in  the 
group,  and  controlling  almost  the  whole  of 
the  commercial  operations,  is  looked  to  by 
the  residents  to  push  British  interests  in  the 
islands.  There  can  be  little  doubt  that  the 
absolute  control  of  the  New  Hebrides  group 
will  fall  to  the  nation  which  makes  the 
greatest  commercial  progress  within  its  limits. 

'•  This  Company  has  just  issued  two  stamps 
for  prepayment  of  postage  on  letters  carried 
between  the  islands  by  their  steamer.  On 
and  after  the  ist  June  they  will  rec^uire  all 
letters  from  the  islands  to  Sydney  to  bear 
an  interisland  id.  stamp  in  addition  to  the 
2^d.  New  South  Wales  stamp,  which  carries 
the  letter  to  any  destination.  Of  course,  all 
letters  from  one  port  in  the  islands  to 
another  will  be  prepaid  solely  by  the  Com- 
pany's stamps. 

"The  following  are  the  interisland  rates 
of  postage : — 

Letters.     For  every  ^  oz.  or  fraction  thereof  id. 

Packets  and  magazines.  Not  exceeding  4  oz.  id. 
Packets  and  magazines.     Every  additional 

4  oz.  or  fraction  thereof        .  .         .id. 

Parcels.     Every  8  oz.  or  fraction  thereof       .  id. 

Newspapers.     Every  8  oz.  or  fraction  thereof  id. 

Registration               .                  ...  2d. 


170 


NEW  ISSUES. 


"  The  stamps  bear  a  view  of  Port  Vila, 
Sandwich  Island,  New  Hebrides. 

"  Lithographed  by  John  Sands  &  Co., 
Sydney  ;  white  wove  paper,  no  wmk.,  rou- 
letted. 

^^  Adhesiz'es.     id.,  magenta  and  (centre)  black. 
2d.,  red-brown  ,,  ,,        blue." 

We  are  of  opinion  that  these  stamps  are 
at  present  of  a  local  and  private  nature,  but 
time  only  will  show  how  far  this  description 
is  justified. 

New  South  Wales. — The  Australian 
Philatelist  announces  that  the  Letter  Card 
is  now  coloured  a  deep  pink  inside,  a  shade 
which  is  said  to  differ  from  that  we 
chronicled  in  December  last,  which  our 
contemporary  described  as  "blush -pink." 
From  the  same  source  we  learn  also  that 
the  Letter  Card  will  shortly  be  printed  from 
an  electrotype,  instead  of  being  litho- 
graphed— a  process  which  is  also  to  be 
applied  to  the  post  cards. 

Letter  Catii.     iJd.,  red  on  lii-ab  (deep  pink  inside). 

We  are  indebted  to  Mr.  A.  F.  Basset 
Hull,  as  also  to  Surgeon-Colonel  Williams, 
for  cuttings  from  the  Sydney  Mail,  giving 
descriptions  of  the  stamps  alluded  to  in 
our  last  issue,  and  which  are  being  issued 
in  honour  of  the  Queen's  Diamond  Jubilee. 
The  cuttings  referred  to  state  that  from 
some  360  designs  sent  in  two  have  been 
chosen  for  the  2d.  and  2\A.  values,  while  the 
id.  has  been  drawn  at  the  Government 
Printing  Office;  this  consists  of  a  shield 
bearing  the  "cross"  with  four  stars  and 
a  lion,  a  Crown  above,  the  Name  and 
'Postage"  below,  with  value  in  figures  in 
the  lower  angles.  The  2d.  stamp  has  the 
Queen's  head  in  profile  on  a  solid  ground, 
borne  on  a  a  shield  lettered  "  New  South 
Wales "  "  Postage "  above,  and  a  large 
"2°"  underneath  the  profile  :  but  the 
original  design,  showing  the  shield  filled 
in  by  an  ornamented  background,  is  to  be 
altered  to  a  rendering  of  the  waratah  and 
native  rose ;  the  shield  is  imposed  upon  an 
oblong  tablet,  representing  the  ensign  of 
Australia.  The  2id.  value  is  of  oblong, 
rectangular  shape,  showing  a  somewhat 
larger  profile  of  the  Queen,  superimposed 
upon  a  background  of  colour  bearing  the 
Southern  Cross,  the  profile  occupying  the 
right  half  of  the  stamp  and  the  inscription 
the  left.  Altogether  the  stamps  are  an 
improvement  on  those  in  use  at  present, 
but  a  great  deal  will  depend  upon  the 
engraving  and  printing. 


Queensland. — The  same  paper  chron- 
icles the  2d.  adhesive  with  the  figures  of 
value  in  all  corners.  The  appearance  is 
described  as  a  melancholy  example  of 
deterioration  from  constant  tinkering  ;  and, 
as  the  figures  all  vary  in  size  and  shape,  an 
increased  number  of  varieties  of  this  and  other 
values  may  be  looked  for,  similar  to  the  "la" 
joined,  long  "P,"  and  other  minor  varieties  to 
be  found  on  the  values  of  the  retiring  set. 

Adhesive.     2d.,  p.ile  blue;  perf.  13. 

Rhodesia. — We  have  pleasure  in  acced- 
ing to  our  correspondent's  request,  contained 
in  the  following  letter  : — 

P.O.  Box  230,  Salisbury,  Rhodesia, 
April  l^th,  1897. 
Dear  Sir, — I  would  like  to  draw  your  attention 
to  the  fact  that  the  official  name  of  this  country  is 
now  "  RHODESL\,"  under  which  name  should 
be  placed  all  references  to  the  stamps  of  the 
British  South  Africa  Company,  instead  of  placing 
them  under  the  latter  name.  This,  of  course, 
also  applies  equally  to  list  prices  and  catalogues. 

Trusting  you  will  see  your  way  to  make  the 
above  alteration  in  all  your  future  publications. 
Yours  faithfully, 

D.  Montague  Jacobs. 

Seychelles  Islands. — The  Weekly 
Stamp  News,  in  noting  the  date  of  issue  of 
the  three  new  stamps  (iSc,  36  c.,  and  i 
rupee),  the  19th  March  last,  also  states  that 
the  following  is  the  permanent  issue  :  2,  3,  4, 
8,  10,  12,  16,  18,  and  36  cents,  and  i  rupee, 
although  there  are  some  values  of  the  pro- 
visional and  previous  issues  still  in  stock, 
which  will  be  gradually  worked  off. 

Sierra  Leone. — The  colour  of  the  is. 
Fiscal  stamp,  surcharged  2^d.,  should  be 
lilac  only,  and  not  lilac  and  green  as 
chronicled  last  month. 

Two  new  values  of  the  current  type  have 
appeared. 

Adhesive!.     lid.,  lilac  and  black, 
sd.         ,,      ,,     violet. 

Uganda. — We  are  indebted  to  the  M.J. 
for  the  accompanying  illustrations  of  the 
stamps  described  last  month. 


C    G    A    N   D 


Uganda 


ANXAS 


PROTECTORATE 


UGANDA 


PKOTECIOEATE 


PC 

)fi£AGB      1 

1 

•X- 

^-X- 

3 

ANNAS 

PKOTECTOE.\TE 


UGANDA 

POSTAGE 
4    ANNAS 

PROTECTOR.^TE 


NEW  ISSUES. 


171 


UGANDA 


UGANDA 


U^' 


OMttt\.GE 

vis* 


ONE  EUPEE 

PROTECTOKATE 


EUROPE. 

Austria. — Some  sheets  of  the  current  5 
kreuzer  stamp  have  by  error  been  printed 
on  light  bkiish  paper. 

Adhcsii'L'.     5  kr.,  red  on  bliiisJi. 

Italy. — Lc  T.-P.  chronicles  a  5  c.  Letter 
Card,  having  a  stamp  of  the  new  type  illus- 
trated on  page  99. 

Letter  Card.     5  c. ,  green  on  grey. 

AMERICA. 

Bolivia. — We  give  illustrations  of  the 
three  stamps  described  last  month,  and  Le 
T.-P.  enlightens  us  as  to  the  identity  of  the 
portraits  appearing  thereon.  Linares,  on  the 
2  c,  was  a  former  President  of  the  Republic. 
Monteagudo,  whose  portrait  appears  on  the 
10  c.  stamp,  was  a  general  who  distinguished 
himself  in  the  war  of  independence,  and  who 
was  finally  assassinated.  Ballivian,  on  the 
20  c,  was  also  a  distinguished  general. 


Colombia  (Republic  of).— The  J/.  /. 
has  received  a  5  c  stamp  of  the  current 
type  printed  upon  a  deep  i^/{^  paper,  perf. 


12  X  13^. 

Adhesive.     5  c,  brown  on  deep  buff. 

Peru. — We  hear  that  a  commemorative 
series  of  three  values  has  been  ordered  to 
celebrate  the  opening  of  the  new  Post  Office 
at  Lima  next  month,  and  altogether  the 
South  American  Continent  would  appear  to 
be  suffering  severely  just  now  from  an 
influx  of  speculative,  unnecessary,  and  other 
new  issues. 

OTHER  COUNTRIES. 

Congo  Free  State. — A  15  c.  single 
Post  Card  has  now  been  issued,  completing 
those  chronicled  on  page  99. 

Post  Card.     15  c,  brown  on  bitj]^. 

Dutch  Indie.S. — De?-  Philatelist  tells  us 
that  there  is  now  a  new  value  in  the  current 
set,  i2i  c.  Up  to  the  present  the  Colony  has 
not  required  a  stamp  of  this  value. 

Adhesive.     12^  c,  grey. 

Egypt.  —  Soudan.  —  Messrs.  Whitfield 
King  &  Co.  write  to  point  out  that  we 
omitted  a  value  of  the  Soudan  stamps  last 
month,  there  being  also  a  2  m.  stamp  ;  also 
that,  having  received  a  letter  from  Haifa 
Camp  franked  only  with  these  stamps,  they 
are  for  international  as  well  as  local  use. 

Adhesive.     2  mil.,  green,  black  surch. 

Porto  Rico.— On  May  7th  last  the  3 
centavos  stamp  was  changed  in  colour  from 
blue  to  claret-brown,  owing  to  the  previous 
colour  clashing  with  the  5  centavos  stamp- 
Our  contemporary,  the  A.  J.  of  Ph.,  in 
giving  this  news,  points  out  that  the  present 
colour  may  be  said  to  now  clash  with  the 
2  centavos  stamp. 

Adhesive.     3  c.,  claret-brown. 

Portuguese  Colonies. — We  hear  that 
a  complete  set  of  Unpaid  Letter  Stamps 
will  shortly  be  issued  for  each  of  the  various 
Colonies. 


-^^■♦♦♦♦♦♦♦IK<»I»»>«tK»»X»»>'J-^' 


L        '72        ] 


cildic  Sorutics'  Sl^^tiuigs. 


THE   PHILATELIC  SOCIETY,   LONDON. 


HoHorayy  President— YL.Vk.W.  The  Duke  of  Saxe-Coburg  and  Gotha,  K.G.,  .Vc. 

Council  for  the  Year  1896  97 : 

President— YiAkAl.  The  Duke  ok  York,  K.G. 

Vice-President— \l.   P.  Castle. 

Hon.  Secretary-].  A.   TiLLEARD.  I  Hon.  Assistant  Secretary— R.  J'eakce. 

Hon.    Treasurer— C.   N.   BiGGS.  |  Librarian— T.   Maycock. 

E.  D.  Bacon.  |  e.  B.  Evans.  |         t.  Wickham  Jones. 


K.  Ehrenbach. 


D.  Garth. 


H.  R.  Oldfield. 


The  twenty-seventh  meeting  of  the  season 
1896-97,  being  the  Annual  General  Meeting 
of  the  Society,  was  held  at  Effingham  House 
on  Friday,  the  21st  May,  1897,  at  7.45  p.m. 

The  chair  was  occupied  by  the  Vice- 
President,  and  the  following  members  were 
also  in  attendance,  viz.:  Messrs.  E.  D.  Bacon, 
T.  Wickham  Jones,  T.  W.  Hall,  R.  Ehrenbach, 
R.  Meyer,  R.  Frentzel,  A.  R.  Barrett,  A.  A. 
Davis,  W.  Silk,  T.  Maycock,  C.  McNaughtan, 
Gordon  Smith,  E,  J.  Nankivell,  R.  Pearce, 
A.  W.  Chambers,  C.  N.  Biggs,  W.  R.  Palmer, 
and  J.  A.  Tilleard. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  having 
been  read  and  confirmed,  the  Secretary 
reported  the  receipt  from  Messrs.  Mekeel  of 
four  volumes  of  the  Daily  Stamp  Itevi  for 
the  Society's  Library,  which  were  directed  to 
be  acknowledged  with  thanks. 

The  Secretary  read  a  report  on  the  work 
of  the  season,  for  which,  on  the  motion  of 
Mr.  Nankivell,  seconded  by  Mr.  Gordon 
Smith,  a  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  to 
him,  and  the  report  was  directed  to  be 
received  and  adopted,  and  to  be  published 
in  the  London  Philatelist. 

Mr.  A.  W.  Chambers,  as  one  of  the 
Auditors,  then  read  and  explained  the 
Treasurer's  accounts  and  balance-sheet  for 
the  year,  and  the  report  of  the  Auditors 
on  the  financial  position  of  the  Society, 
showing  that  the  improvement  of  the  pre- 
vious year  had  been  well  maintained,  and  that 
the  finances  of  the  Society  were  in  a  sound 
and  satisfactory  condition.  On  the  motion 
of   the    Vice-President,   seconded    by    Mr. 


Ehrenbach,  the  accounts  were  directed  to 
be  received  and  adopted,  and  a  hearty  vote 
of  thanks  was  accorded  to  the  Treasurer, 
Mr.  C.  N.  Biggs,  and  to  the  Auditors,  Mr. 
A.  W.  Chambers  and  Mr.  R.  Pearce,  for 
their  services. 

A  number  of  alterations  in  the  statutes,  of 
which  notice  had  been  given,  were  then 
considered,  and  amongst  other  things  it 
was  resolved  to  increase  the  number  of 
the  Council  to  fifteen,  and  to  increase  the 
payments  for  commutation  of  annual  sub- 
scriptions to  twenty  guineas  in  the  case  of 
town  members  and  to  twelve  guineas  in  the 
case  of  country  members.  Provisions  were 
also  added  to  the  statutes  dealing  with  the 
investment  and  application  of  moneys 
received   from   life   members. 

On  the  consideration  of  the  constitution 
of  the  Council  for  the  ensuing  year,  H.R.H. 
the  Duke  of  York,  K.G.,  was  re-elected  as 
President;  Mr.  M.  P.  Castle,  Vice-President; 
Mr.  J.  A.  Tilleard,  Hon.  Secretary;  Mr. 
C.  N.  Biggs,  Hon.  Treasurer;  and  Mr. 
T.  Maycock,  Hon.  Librarian  ;  the  remaining 
members  elected  being  Messrs.  W.  B. 
Avery,  E.  D.  Bacon,  W.  Doming  Beckton, 
R.  Ehrenbach,  E.  B.  Evans,  D.  Garth, 
T.  Wickham  Jones,  H.  R.  Oldfield,  and 
Gordon  Smith. 

It  was  decided  to  hold  the  Annual  Dinner 
of  the  Society  during  the  E.xhibition  week, 
and  a  Committee,  consisting  of  Messrs.  T. 
Wickham  Jones,  R.  Ehrenbach,  C.  N.  Biggs, 
and  H.  R.  Oldfield,  was  appointed  to  make 
and  carry  out  all  necessary  arrangements. 


[      '73 


yist  of  llUinkrs  of  tljt  l^ljibittlk  Sotictn,  l^onbott. 


Honorary  Preside  III — II.R.II.  The  Duke  of  Saxe-Coburg  and  Gotha,  K.G.,  &c. 

Council  for  the  Year  1897-98  : 

President— W.^.W.  The  Duke  of  York,  K.G. 
Vice-President— ^1.  V.  Castle. 


Hon.  Secretary—].  A.   TiLLEARD. 
Hon.  Treasurer — C.  N.  Biggs. 

W.  B.  Avery. 
E.  D.  Bacon. 

W.    DORNING   BECKTON. 


Hon.  Assistant  Secretary — R.    Pearce. 
Librarian — T.    Maycock. 


R.   Ehrenbach. 
E.  B.  Evans. 
D.  Garth. 


T.  WicKHAM  Jones. 
II.  R.  Oldfield. 
Gordon  Smith. 


J.  H.  Abbott. 

E.  R.  Ackerman. 
M.-ijor  J.  G.  Ailamsoii. 
Dr.  W.  H.  Allchin. 

P.  J.  Anderson. 
J.  M.  Andreini. 
W.  Armiste.id. 
W.  B.  Avery 

F.  W.  Ayer. 

E.  D.  Bacon. 

G.  J.  Bailey. 
C.  E.  Baker. 
W.  Barnard. 
A.  R.  Barrett. 

G.  B.  Barrington. 
A.  T.  Bate. 
Mrs.  C.  A.  Baynes. 
W.  D.  Beckton. 
W.  Beckwitli. 
Rev.  W.  Bell. 
David  Benjamin. 

F.  G.  Bepler. 

E.  Beveridge. 
C.  N.  Biggs. 
Rev.  G.  -S.  Bird. 
W.  W.  Blest. 
W.  Block. 

Dr.  E.  Von  Bochman. 
Rev.  N.  Borton. 
Dr.  A.  BoswcU. 

F.  Breitfuss. 

Sir  H.  C.  Bunbury,  Bart. 
Dr.  T.  J.  W.  Burgess. 

F.  F.  Burghard. 
M.  Burnett. 
W.  R.  Biirrell. 

Lieut. -Col.  St.  L.  Burrowes. 
M.  P.  Castle,  j.p. 

A.  W.  Chambers. 
H.  Champion. 

J.  H.  Chapman. 
Lieut. -Col.  Chermside. 
W.  L.  Chew. 
Captain  Chichester. 

G.  Churcher. 

Sir   Jas.    R.    Andrew    Clark, 

Bart. 
H.  R.  G.  Clarke. 
H.  Clotz. 

E.  P.  Collett. 

F.  O.  Conant. 

M.  W.  K.  Connolly. 

M.  S.  Cooke. 

Sir  Daniel  Cooper,  Bart. 

Surgeon  E.  Cooper,  k.n. 

Captain  F.  Cooper,  r.a. 

C.  B.  Corwin. 

W.  Cowland. 

B.  Crowder. 

A,  B.  Creeke,  junr. 
T.  H.  R.  Crowle. 

C.  Dack. 
C.  J.  Daun. 
A.  A.  Davis. 
H.  F.  Deane. 
H.  E.  Deats. 

Rev.  R.  T.  de  Cartaret. 

Dr.  E.  Diena. 

T.  P.  Dorman. 

Thos.  Dorman. 

A.  G.  E.  Driver. 

A.  F.  S.  Dure. 

H.  J.  Duveen. 


R.  Ehrenbach. 

E.  A.  Elliott. 
D.  Ellis. 

A.  C.  Emerson. 

J.  D.  Enys. 

J.  H.  Escolme. 

Major  Evans. 

T.  D.  F.  Evans. 

P.  Fabri. 

P.  Von  Ferrary. 

H.  Ferrier-Kerr. 

O.  Firth. 

Rev.  T.  S.  Fleming. 

C.  £.  Fox. 
H.  Fraenkel. 

F.  R   Eraser. 
R.  Frentzel. 
W.  Gaddum. 

D.  Garth. 
C.  Geldard. 
L.  Gibb. 

C.  Gibbons. 

E.  S.  Gibbons. 

G.  F.  H.  Gibson. 
H.  J.  Gillespie. 
J.  W.  Gillespie. 
A.  A.  Good. 

D.  C.  R.  Greathead. 
J.  T.  Green. 

H.  Grey. 

A.  G.  Griffith. 

T.  W.  Hall. 

J.  H.  Hallett. 

VV.  J.  Hardy. 

Surgn. -Major  G.  F.  A.  Harris. 

W.  Harrison. 

H.  C.  Hart. 

J.  J.  Haupt. 

L.  L.  R.  Hausburg. 

Surgn. -Major  A.  W.Haviland. 

E.  Hawkins. 
W.  Herrick. 
Dr.  H.  Hetley. 
David  H.  Hill. 

F.  C.  Hill. 
Pe.irson  Hill. 
J.  O.  Hobby. 

G.  Hodgson. 
A.  HolUand. 
A.  L.  Holnian. 
Rev.  W.  H.  Holman. 

F.  E.  Horton. 
Dr.  A.  Houison. 
E.  F.  Hubbuck. 
H.  P.  Hudleston. 

AL  E.  Hughes-Hughes. 
A.  F.  B.asset-Hull. 

G.  J.  Hynes. 
W.  E.  Image. 
G.  F.  Jackson. 
D.  M.  Jacob.s. 
\V.  E.  Jeff. 

Sir  H.  Jerningham,  K.C.M.c. 

Mrs.  C.  M.  Jervis. 

J.  F.  Jones. 

T.  Wickham  Jones. 

J.  E.  Joselin. 

Lieut. -Col.  F.  W.  Joseph. 

W.  R.  Joynt. 

Dr.  F.  Kalckhofl'. 

Dr.  J.  N.  Keynes. 

J.  L.  Kilbon. 

D.  A.  King. 

r.  W.  Kitt. 


H.  J.  Knowles. 

B.  D.  Knox. 
W.  Krapp. 
H.  Kropf. 

C.  J.  Lambert. 
J.  S.  Lambert. 
J.  G.  Langton. 
C.  F.  Larmour. 

F.  A.  Larmour. 

A.  B.  Langridge. 
E.  Lentz. 

C.  Lindenberg. 
P.  J.  Lloyd. 

B.  Loewy. 

H.  Loveridge. 
H.  F.  Lowe. 
E.  C.  Luard. 

C.  J.  Lucas. 

A.  A.  Lyall. 
H.  H.  Lyman. 

D.  J.  Macfie. 

C.  E.  McN,aughtan. 
Dr.  F.  Mailman. 
J.  N.  Marsden. 
Mrs.  Marshall. 
C.  F.  D.  Marshall. 
W.  Matthews. 
Major  A.  B.  Maxwell. 
T.  Maycock. 

G.  F.  Melbourn. 
R.  Meyer. 

Dr.  G.  Michelsen. 

H.  M.  Millington. 

J.  B.  Moens. 

J.  N.  A.  Mostyn. 

W.  E.  Muir. 

Major  C.J.  Everitt  Mumby. 

Capt   W.  J.  Myers. 

E.  J.  Nankivell. 

B.  W.  Neave. 
Surgn.-Major  A.  G.  E. 

Newland. 
N.  St.  J.  Newton. 
G.  B.  T.  Nicholl. 
J.  A.  Ni.x. 
Capt.  F.  Northey. 
T.  Notthafift. 
A.  Odell. 
H.  R.  Oldfield. 
J.  S.  O'Meara. 
Capt.  St.  G.  Ord. 
A.  A.  Osborn. 

F.  E.  Owen. 
Lieut.  B.  Oxehfvud. 
J.  V.  Painter. 

W.  R.  Palmer. 

Prince  Doria  Pamphilij. 

A.  D.  Park. 

A.  Passer. 

Dr.  A.  G.  Paterson. 

W.  Patterson. 

R.  Pearce. 

W.  E.  Peebles. 

C.  Pereira. 

Miss  Feyl  de  Pfeil. 
O.  Pfenninger. 
Judge  Philbrick.  Q.c. 
\V.  Pimm. 
J.  C.  Potter. 
H.  Quare. 

D.  A.  Quiggin. 
Mrs.  Raahange. 
Lieut.  A.  R.  Raby,  k.n. 
The  Earl  of  Ranlurly. 


T.  A.  Ranee. 

F.  Ransom. 

A.  W.  Rawcliffe. 
Rev.  G.  H.  Raynor. 
Rev.  P.  E.  Raynor. 
J.  H.  Redman. 

Baron  A.  de  Reuterskiold. 
J.  S.  Rich. 
Vernon  Roberts. 
J.  S.  Robertson. 

B.  P.  Rodd. 
L.  Rodet. 

A.  Rosenberg. 

G.  B.  Routledge. 
Major  R.  H.  Sadler. 

E.  T.  Sandars. 

F.  N.  Schiller. 
E.  S.  Schwabe. 
Lieut.  L.  Schwarz. 
W.  Scott. 

E.  H.  Selby. 

Prince  Boris  Shahoffscoi. 

J.  F.  Sharpies. 

£.  Shorthouse. 

J.  Siewert. 

VV.  Silk,  junr. 

A.  B.  Slater,  junr. 

Gordon  Smith. 

J.  E.  Sparrow. 

A.  H.  Stamford. 

S.  G.  Stein. 

W.  M.  Stenart. 

A.  Steudell. 

R.  T.  Stevens. 

C.  Stewart-Wilson. 
W.  C.  Stone. 

\V.  Strohmeyer. 

E.  T.  Sturgis. 

Sir  Edward  Sullivan,  Bart. 
Lieut.-Col.  H.  A.  Tapp. 
Dr.  R.  S.  Taylor. 
Mrs.  Tebay. 
W.  Thorne. 
J.  A.  Tilleard. 
J.  G.  Tolhurst. 
J.  S.  P.  Tompsett. 

G.  L.  Toppan. 
R.  J.  Torrie. 
C.  J.  Tyas. 

Rev.  W.  N.  Usher. 

F.  C.  Van  Duzer. 

E.  D.  E.  Van-Weenan,  j.p. 
Dr.  C.  W.  Viner. 
J.  Walker. 

E.  L.  Waterlow. 
T.  Martin  Wears. 
Consul  E.  F.  Weber. 
L.  S.  Wells. 

F.  West. 

A.  E.  L.  Westaway. 
W.  A.  S.  Westoby. 
Mrs.  Weston. 
H.  J.  White. 
H.  VVinckmann. 
W.  E.  Williams. 
A.  H.  Wilson. 
W.  T.  Wilson. 
N.  H.  Withee. 
Baron  de  Worms. 
Baron  A.  de  Worms. 
Baron  P.  de  Worms. 

G.  H.  Worthington. 
H.  E.  Wright. 


174 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'   MEETINGS. 


THE   PHILATELIC  SOCIETY  OF   INDIA. 


The  first  general  meeting  of  the  Society 
was  lield  on  6th  March,  1897,  at  No.  6, 
Middleton  Row,  Calcutta,  at  9.30  p.m.  The 
following  members  were  present :  —  Lady 
Collen,  Mrs.  Reynolds,  Major  Day,  and 
Messrs.  G.  A.  Anderson,  W.  Corfield,  Sassoon 
Gubbay,  C.  F.  Larmour,  F.  A.  Larmour,  J. 
O'B.  Saunders,  F.  N.  Schiller,  P.  A.  Selfe,  and 
C.  Stewart- Wilson.  Mr.  C.  Stewart-Wilson 
was  voted  to  the  chair,  and  read  the  draft  of 
the  proposed  constitution  and  statutes  of 
the  Society.  On  the  motion  of  Mr.  C.  F. 
Larmour,  seconded  by  Major  Day,  it  was 
proposed  and  carried  that  the  draft  rules  be 
referred  for  consideration  toaSub-Committee, 
consisting  of  Major  Day,  and  Messrs.  A.  A. 
Lyall,  J.  O'B.  Saunders,  and  F.  N.  Schiller, 
with  instructions  to  report  in  a  fortnight. 

The  meeting  then  elected  the  following 
office-bearers  : 


President :     . 

Vice-Presidents 
Hon.  Trcastirer 


Mr.  C.  Stewart-Wilson. 

(Lady  Collen. 
-  Prof.  O.  V.  Miiller. 
(Major  C.  H.  I.  Hopkins. 
.•  Mr.  Wilmot  Corfield. 


„       „      ^  fMr.  P.  Aylwyn  Stlfe,  Bank  of 

Hon.  Secretary -.i^     Bengal. 

(Mr. 
1  Mr. 


Editors  of  the 
fournal : 


Mr.  C.  F.  Larmour. 
F.  N.  Schiller. 


MEMBERS   OF   THE   COUNCIL. 

To  represent  the  Ladies  : 
Lady  Collen  and  Mrs.  Reynolds. 


To  represent  Bengal : 

Messrs.  A.  A.  Lyall  and  G.  Norman. 

To  represent  Bombay  and  Kajpiitana  : 

Prof.  O.  V.  Miiller. 

To  represent  N.-W.  P.  and  Ottdh  : 

Major  du  Moulin  and  Mr.  Cornwall. 

To  represent  Fiinjab  : 

Captain  Hancock  and  Mr.  G.  A.  Anderson. 

To  represent  Central  Provinces : 

Surgeon-Major  Harris. 

To  represent  Assam  : 

Lieut.  T.  E.  Madden. 

The  meeting  then  devoted  itself  to  the 
inspection  of  stamps,  the  collections  of  Lady 
Collen,  the  President,  the  Messrs.  Larmour, 
and  Mr.  Schiller  being  much  admired.  An 
adjournment  was  then  made  to  March  20. 


The  adjourned  first  general  meeting 
of  the  Society  was  held  on  20th  March, 
1897,  at  the  Bengal  Club.  The  Honorary 
Treasurer  presided.  The  Honorary  Secretary 
read  the  draft  of  the  rules  as  revised  by  the 
Sub-Committee,  which,  with  a  few  alterations, 
were  confirmed,  and  the  Honorary  Secretary 
was  directed  to  send  copies  as  soon  as 
possible  to  all  members. 


[It  is  with  much  pleasure  that  we  insert 
the  foregoing  minutes  as  evidencing  the 
healthy  state  of  things  Philatelic  in  India. 
We  can  only  reiterate  our  best  wishes  for  the 
success  of  the  new  Society. — Ed.] 


SUBURBAN  STAMP  EXCHANGE. 


Notice 
The  May  packets  were  quite  up  to  the 
average,  many  good  selections  being  re- 
ceived. Old  Europeans  were  specially 
strong.  January  accounts  have  been  sub- 
mitted and  settled,  and  February  packets 
are  expected  back  from  their  supplementary 
rounds  this  week.     Sales  were  as  follows  : — 

£       s.    d. 
.  122   II   II 


Jan.  A  I  packet     . 

„     A  2       „  .  no  14  7 

„     B  I       „          .  .  31  2  4 

.,     B  2      „          .         .  .  39  2  o 

Supply    rounds   of  A   i  and 

A  2  packets   .  .  74  o  2 


FOR  June. 

The  revised  code  of  rules  (drawn  up  by 
Mr.  Oldfield  in  view  of  the  recent  legal 
decisions  given  re  the  liabilities  of  Ex-change 
Clubs)  is  being  adopted,  and  will  be  sub- 
mitted to  all  members  in  due  course  for 
signature.  Fresh  supplies  of  stationery  are 
ready  for  distribution.  Responsible  col- 
lectors will  be  furnished  with  full  informa- 
tion as  to  membership,  etc.,  on  application. 

H.  A.  Sl.\de,  Hon.  Sec. 

In(;i.e.sidk,  St.  Albans. 


[We  regret  thit  the  publication  of  the  minutes  of  the  Birmingham  Philatelic  Society  is 

necessarily  deferred  till  next  month. — Ed  ] 


[      >75 


Corrcs}^onbcncc. 


Communications. — All  communications  of  Philatelic  matters  and  Publications  for  Review  should 
be  addressed  to  the  Editor  of  Thk  London  rini.ATELisT,  Kingston  Lodge,  Richmond  Place, 
Brighton. 

Advertisements  should  be  sent  to  Mk.  IL  M.  Cioocii  (Advertising  Department),  Effingham  House, 
Arundel  Street,  London,  W.C. 

Subscriptions. — The  London  Philatelist  will  be  sent,  post  free  in  Great  Britain  or  the  countries 
of  the  Postal  Union,  to  any  subscriber,  on  receipt  of  6s.  ($1.50).  Stibscribers'  remittances  should 
be  sent  to  Mr.  H.  M.  GoocH,  Effingham  House,  Arundel  Street,  Strand,  London,  W.C. 


THE    CAPE    LOCAL   PRINTS. 

Dear  Sir, — I  have  read  with  much 
interest  Mr.  G.  Johnson's  notes  re  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope  provisionals  in  the  January 
number  of  the  London  PJiilatcIist.  From 
the  rough  sketches  of  the  reprint  sheets 
appearing  in  that  number  we  would  be  led 
to  think  that  there  is  a  broken  or  damaged 
stereotype  only  in  the  sheets  of  the  id. 
This  is  not  so,  however,  as  1  possess,  if  not 
sold  in  the  meantime,  a  specimen  of  the  4d. 
showing,  instead  of  the  usual  ornaments  in 
the  bottom  right-hand  angle,  some  white 
lines. 

To  my  mind  the  explanation  of  the  variety 
is  this,  that  when  the  discovery  was  made 
of  the  id.  electros  amongst  the  4d.  electros 
an  endeavour  was  made  to  remove  the  id. 
electro,  or  rather  the  face  of  it,  with  some 
sharp  instrument,  thus  damaging  the  next 


one  to  it,  as  per  rough  sketch  herewith. 
This,  so  far  as  I  can  tell,  is  the  only  ex- 
planation which  can  as  yet  be  given  of  the 
peculiar  variety  as  above  described.  If 
necessary  I  shall  be  pleased  to  let  you  have 
a  photograph  of  the  specimen  in  question. 

The  variety  referred  to,  if  I  am  right  in 
my  assumption,  should  be  as  valuable  as,  if 
not  more  so  than,  the  id.,  blue,  error. 

As  far  as  the  numbers  of  the  errors  are 
concerned,  there  is  a  prior  letter  on  the 
subject  in  No.  12,  vol.  i.,  1892  issue  of 
the  London  Philatelist. 

Yours  faithfully, 

Woodblock. 

P.O.    BOX   32S6,    JOHANNESBURG. 

[From  the  rough  sketch  sent  by  our  corre- 
spondent it  appears  that  the  specimen  to 
which  he  refers  is  at  the  lower  right  angle 
of  the  sheet. — Ed.] 


t^t  Ihvket. 


Messrs.  Puttick  &  Simpson 
Sale  on  May  25th  and  26th. 
Great    Britain,    octagonal,    lod.,     £> 
brown,  die  4,  unused  (large 
margins  and  gum)         .         .       5 

Lagos,    2/6,   olive-black,   unused 

(no  gum)        ....       3 

Ditto,  5/-,  blue         do.         do.     .       6 

Ditto,  10/-,  lilac-brown  do.  . 

Barbados,     imperf.,     i/-,    black, 
unused  pair  (no  gum)    . 

Ditto,  5/-,  rose,  unused 
Montserrat,  CA,  4d.,  blue,  unused 
St.    Christopher,    CA,   4d.,   blue, 
unused  

Tobago,  CA,  6d.,  bistre,  unused 
(no  gum)       .... 

British   Honduras,  CC,  perf.   14, 
6d.,  rose,  unused  . 

New    South    Wales,    laureated, 
3d.,  green,  wmk.  "  2  "    . 


3     3 

6     5 

12  12 


4 

3 
10 


4  15 


3     3 


IS 
o 


10  10    o 


'3 


II 


500 


Tasmania,    ist    issue,    id.,   blue,      £■     s.    <i. 
unused 476 


Messrs.  Ventom,  Bull,  &  Cooper. 
Sale  on  May  12th  and  13th. 
Oldenburg,    2nd    issue,   \   gros., 

black  on  green,  unused 
Ditto,  2  gr.,  black  on  rose,  unused 
Prussia,     2     sgr.,     blue,     black 

ground, unused 
Spain,  1865,  imperf.,  12  c, rose  and 

blue,  centre  inverted,  unused 
Afghanistan,  1289,6  shahi,  purple 
Ditto,  ditto,  I  rupee,  purple. 
Ditto,  1293,  shahi,  black 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  triangular, 

4d.,  blue,  rouletted,  a  pair     . 
Virgin     Islands,     i/-,     crimson, 

coloured   border,  entire   un- 
used sheet  (20) 
United  States,  185 1,  5  c,  reddish 

brown,  imperf.,  unused. 


0 

0 

0 

4 

4 

0 

4 

0 

0 

5 

0 

0 

o     o 


.76 


THE   MARKET. 


Sale  on  May  27th  and  28th. 

Great  Britain,  1883-84,  wmk.   3 
crowns,  ^i,  brown-lilac,  un- 
used      .... 
Shanghai,   first    issue,    3  cands. 

brown  .... 
Ditto,  ditto,  4  cands.,  yellow 
British  Central  Africa,  first  issue 

/5,  sage-green,  unused 
Ditto,  ditto,  £\o,  brown,  unused 
Ditto,  ditto,  ;£25,  blue,  imperf. 
British  Soutli  Africa,  £1,  green 

unused  

Ditto,  ditto,  £\o,  brown,  unused 
Gold  Coast,  CA,  id.,  blue,  unused 
Ditto,  ditto,  20,'-,  red  and  green, 

unused  

Lagos,  2/6,  olive-black,  unused    . 

„       5/-,  blue  „ 

„     10/-,  lilac-brown        „ 

Oil  Rivers,  ^d.  on  half  id.,  vertical 

block  of  4,  top  pair  with  surch. 

in  violet,  the  lower  pair  in  red 

Ditto,   ^d.,   in   carmine  capitals, 

on   2|d.,  a   strip   of    3,    the 

centre  stamp  with  surcharge 

"Half-Penny"  (Gibbons' type 

5)  in  blue       .... 

Ditto,   "One    Shilling"    on    2d., 

horizontal  strip  of  3,  unused, 

two     being     surcharged     in 

violet  and  the  centre  stamp 

in  black  (vertically) 

Ditto,  5/-,  in  violet,  on  2d.,  unused 

Ditto,  10/-,  in  vermilion,  on  5d., 

unused  .... 

Ditto,  20/-,  in  violet,  on  i/-,  green, 

unused  

Nova  Scotia,  i/-,  dark  violet  (fine) 
New  Zealand,  wmk.  "N.  Z."  id., 

brown,  horizontal  pair 
Bahamas,    no    wmk.,    perf.     12, 

4d.,  rose,  unused  . 
Ditto,  perf  14  to   16,  4d.,  rose, 
unused  .... 

Ditto,  perf  14  to  1 6, 6d.,  grey-lilac, 

unused  ....       7 

Ditto,  perf.  13,  6d.,  violet,  unused     14 
Barbados,  5/-,  rose,  unused  .       3 

„  1892,    halfpenny,    in 

black  and  7-ed,  on  4d.,  brown, 
horizontal  pair,  unused  .       6 

British  Honduras,  1882-85,  CA, 
6d.,  yellow  and  i/-,  grey, 
unused  ....       5 

Ditto,   1888,  error  of  surcharge, 

5  cents,  on  i/-,  grey,  unused     26 
Ditto,  ditto, "  TWO,"  in  black,  on 
50  c,  grey,  unused,  with  full 

gum 

Ditto,  ditto,  1891,  "6,"  in  black, 
on  10  c.  on  4d.,  mauve,  with 
the  "  6  "  inverted,  unused 
Ditto,  ditto,  a  used  specimen  of 
above  .... 

Ditto,  ditto,  "6,"  in  red,  on  10  c. 
on  4d.,  mauve,  horizontal  pair 
with   "6"   inverted,    unused 


d. 


330 


3 
3 

4 
9 
5 

4 

8 

6 

9 

4 

7 

14 


3     o 
12    6 


4  o 

o  o 

o  o 

8  o 

10  o 


o     o 


5  10    o 


10    o 


15     o 
o    o 


10    o    o 


40 

32 


5 


12 


o  O 

o  o 

o  o 

o  o 

o  o 

o  o 

o  o 

12  6 

o  o 

o  o 

o  o 


43     o     o 


20 


o    o 
8     o 

o    o 


Ditto,  ditto,  a  used  specimen  of 
above,    with   a   specimen   of 
"6"  in  black,  also  inverted, 
both  used  on  entire 
Nevis,  litho.,  perf.   15,    i/-,   pale 
yellow-green,  horizontal  strip 
of    3,    unused,    and    imperf. 
between         .... 
Ditto,  ditto,  6d.,  grey,  unused 
Ditto,  ditto,  wmk.  CA,  6d.,  green, 
pair  unused   .... 

St.  Lucia,  1892,  provisional,  "  One 
Half-penny"  on  3d., lilac  and 
green,  surcharge  inverted 

Ditto,  ditto, "  One  Penny  "  on  4d., 
brown,  surcharge  inverted 
on  original    .... 

St.  Vincent,  perf.  15^,  clean  cut, 
6d.,  yellow  -  green,  unused 
(fair)      

Ditto,  perf.  11,  i/-,  brown,  unused 

Ditto,  wmk.  star,  perf.  11,  4d , 
deep  blue,  unused 

Ditto,  1880-81,  provisionals,  id. 
on  half  6d.,  deep  green,  un- 
used pair       .         .         •        . 

Ditto,  4d.  on  i/-,  vermilion 

Ditto,  1880,  s/-,  rose-red,  unused 

Ditto,  CA,  perf  14,  4d.,  red- 
brown,  unused 

Tobago,  CA,  6d.,  bistre-brown, 
unused  .... 

Turks  Islands,  i/-,  prune  (perfs. 
cut  at  top)    .... 

Virgin  Islands,  perf  15,  6d.,  pale 
rose,  unused 


£  s.     d. 

10  ID     o 

17  00 

9  15     o 

13  o    o 
500 

;  o    o 


1000 
5     2     6 

8     5     o 


18    ID  O 

12      5  O 

17  5  o 
6  10  o 
900 

18  10  o 
4  17  6 


500 
500 


Messrs.  Buhl  &  Co.,  Ltd. 
Sale  on  May  4th  and  5th. 

Labuan,  "  i  dollar,"  in  manu- 
script, on  16 c,  blue,  red, 
surch.,  used  .         .        .         .       6  10    o 

Gold    Coast,  20  sh.,   green  and 

rose,  unused  .         .        .500 

British  Guiana,  1850,  12  c.,  cir- 
cular, deep  blue    .         .         .1500 

Antioquia,  1867,  5  c.,  deep  green     13    o    o 

St.  Vincent,  star  wmk.,  i/-,  claret, 
perf  1 1 2,  unused  . 

Ditto,  i885,''CA,  4d.,  red-brown, 
unused  .... 

Trinidad,  6d.,  yellow-green,  wmk. 
Cr.  CC,  pair,  imperf.,  un- 
used .        .        .        .       8  10    o 

United  States,  1861,  5  c.,  mus- 
tard, unused  .  .626 

St.  Christopher,  CA,  6d.,  olive- 
brown,  complete  sheet  of  20     50    o    o 

Sale  on  May  24th. 

Afghanistan,  1288,  with  plain 
circle,  partly  reconstructed 
sheet  (12)  .         .        .      6  ID    o 

Ditto,  1289,  6  shahi,  purple,  un- 
used, cut  square    .         .        .       8  10    o 

Ditto,    1295,  (June)  shahi,  black      476 

Trinidad,  1864,  lake  (id.),  wmk. 

Cr.  CC,  imperf.  pair,  unused      615     o 


THE 


^tftt^i^n  iMIat^st: 


THE    MONTHLY    JOURNAL    OF 


THE    PHILATELIC   SOCIETY,    LONDON. 


Vol.   VI. 


JULY,    1897. 


No.    67. 


Silje  H^ilatelic  feljibiti0iT. 


TRIUMPHANT  success  all  along  the  line  is  the  universal 
verdict  as  to  the  result  of  the  protracted  labours  of 
the  Committee  and  Sub-Committees  appointed  several 
months  since  to  organize  the  London  Philatelic  Exhibi- 
tion. Whether  regarded  as  to  the  exhibits  themselves, 
the  locale  selected,  the  general  arrangements,  or  the 
attendance,  the  Exhibition  of  1897  must  be  deemed  not 
only  an  unqualified  success,  but  far  in  advance  of  any 
Philatelic  Exhibition  ever  held  in  this  country  or  else- 
where. The  illustrious  patronage  of  the  Royal  Dukes 
has  been  a  conspicuous  feature,  and  has  contributed  in 
no  slight  degree  towards  the  successful  issue ;  while  the 
presence  of  Royalty  on  three  separate  occasions  confers  a  prestige  upon 
the  London  Philatelic  Exhibition  that  is  rarely  equalled  in  any  public 
form  of  entertainment.  The  visit  of  H.R.H.  the  Prince  of  Wales  was  an 
unexpected  but  welcome  event,  and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  the  President 
of  the  Society,  H.R.H.  the  Duke  of  York,  who  accompanied  the  Prince, 
has  won  golden  opinions  from  everyone  with  whom  he  has  been  in  contact 
during  his  several  visits  to  the  Institute.  The  thanks  of  the  Committee 
are  no  less  due  to  H.R.H.  the  Duchess  of  York,  who  graced  the  opening 
ceremony,  and  delighted  everyone  by  her  charm  of  manner  and  her  interest 
in  the  display. 

The  various  features  connected  with  the  Exhibition  will  be  found  fully 
set  out  in  our  columns,  and  it  remains  but  for  us  to  heartily  congratulate 
the  Committee  upon  splendid  success,  to  tender  to  Mr.  J.  A.  Tilleard,  the 
Secretary,  and  his  fellow-workers  the  sincere  thanks  of  all  connected  with 
Philately,  and  to  express  our  conviction  that  the  London  Philatelic  Ex- 
hibition has  amply  fulfilled  its  mission — not  only  in  the  strengthening  of 
the  bonds  that  hold  us  together,  but  in  assuring  the  popularization  and 
permanency  of  Stamp  Collecting. 


[      178     ] 


me  'gonlon  philatelic  (Exhibition,  1897. 


PATRONS. 

H.R.H.  THE  Duke  of  SAXE-COBURG  AND  GOTHA,  Duke  of  EDINBURGH,  K.G. 

H.R.H.    THE   Duke   of  YORK,    K.G. 
His  Grace  the  Duke  of  NORFOLK,  K.G.    (Her  Majesty's  Postmaster-General). 


COMMITTEE. 


The  Vice-President,  Hon.  Secretary,  and 

Nine  Members  of  the  Council  of  the 

Philatelic  Society,  London. 

The  President  and  Hon.  Secretary  of  the 
Birviinghani  Philatelic  Society. 

The  President  and  Hon.  Secretary  of  the 
Bradford  Philatelic  Society. 

The  Hon.  Secretary  of  the 
Brighton  Philatelic  Society. 

The  President  and  Hon.  Secretary  of  the 
Cambridge  University  Philatelic  Society. 

The  President  and  Hon.  Secretaries  of  the 
Leeds  Philatelic  Society. 


The  President  and  Hon.  Secretary  of  the 
Liverpool  Philatelic  Society. 

The  President  and  Hon.  Secretary  of  the 
Manchester  Philatelic  Society. 

The  President  and  Hon.  Secretary  of  the 
Oxford  Philatelic  Society. 

The  President  and  Hon.  Secretary  of  the 
Plymouth  Philatelic  Society. 

The  President  and  Hon.  Secretary  of  the 

Salisbury  and  District  Philatelic  Society. 

The  President  and  Hon.  Secretary  of  the 
Sheffield  Philatelic  Society, 


J.  H.  Abbott. 
W.  B.  Avery. 
A.  R.  Barrett. 
F.  G.  Bepler. 
W.  W.  Blest. 
P.  M.  Bright. 

D.  Brosnan. 
W.  Brown. 
T.  Buhl. 

E.  Clarke. 
H.  J.  Duveen. 

H.  L'Estrange  Ewen. 

M.    GlWELB. 

E.  S.  Gibbons. 

F.  R.  GiNN. 

S.    E.    GWYER. 

W.  Hadlow. 


E.  Hawkins. 
H.  Hilckes. 
Pearson  Hill. 
G.  J.  Hynes. 

W.    R.   JOYNT. 

H.  A.  Kennedy. 
Whitfield  King. 
C.  L.  Lambert. 
W.  Lincoln. 
P.  J.  Lloyd. 

\V.    MORLEY. 

E.  J.  Nankivell. 

Lieut.  F.  H.  Napier,  R.N. 

J.  A.  Nix. 

W.  H.  Peckitt. 

P.  L.  Pemberton. 

C.  J.  Phillips. 


F.  Ransom. 

Rev.  P.  E.  Raynor. 

T.    RiDPATH. 

Vernon  Roberts. 
Walter  Scott. 
Gordon  Smith. 
B.  T.  K.  Smith. 
y.  Scott  Stokes. 
T.  H.  Thompson. 
Rev.  W.  N.  Usher. 
Capt.  R.  A.  Vansittart. 
Dr.  C.  W.  ViNER. 

W.    T.    WiLLETT. 

A.  H.  Wilson. 
J.  Winch.     , 
Hastings  E.  Wright. 


W.    B.    AVERY. 

E.  D.  Bacon. 

W.  DORNING   BeCKTON. 

M.  P.  Castle. 
R.  Ehrenbach. 
E.  B.  Evans. 
M.  Giwelb. 


EXECUTIVE    COMMITTEE. 

S.    E.    GVVYER. 

W.  Hadlow. 

G.  J.  Hynes. 

T.  Wickham  Jones. 

T.  Maycock. 

E.  J.  Nankivell. 

H.  R.  Oldfield. 


R.  Pearce. 
W.  H.  Peckitt. 
C.  J.  Phillips. 
Gordon  Smith. 
T.  A.  Tii.leard. 
"W.  T.  Wilson. 


Chairman  of  Committee.— M.  P.  Castle. 


Treasurer.— W.  B.  Avery. 


Secretary.— J.  A.  Tilleard. 


E.  D.  Bacon. 

F.  Breitfuss. 


Judges. 

M.  P.  Castle. 
Major  E.  B.  Evans. 
Lieut.  F.  H.  Napier,  R.N. 


A.  H.  Fraenkel. 
P.  Mah£. 


F.  A.  Bellamy. 


Special  Judges  for  Class  VIII. 

I         R.  Ehrenbach.  I 


T,  Maycock. 


THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION.  179 


THE  WORK  OF  THE  COMMITTEES. 

\\\Mji»^My      PERUSAL  of  the  names  included  in  the  comprehensive 

ililwW  I         ^"*^    influential    Committee    aiTords   an    indication    of    the 

^/ii®^\fe      solid  foundation  upon  which  the  London  Philatelic  Exhi- 

Y/MW^^i^     bition  was   commenced,  and   a  ready  explanation  of   the 

If/^^M  \|\      brilliant  success  that  has  been  the  result.     The  illustrious 

(Hy.^=s^^£sJ^  patronage   of    the   scheme    has    contributed    materially   to 

this  end,  and  the  enlistment  of  the  leaders  of  the  pursuit  throughout  this 

country  has  secured  the  fortunes  of  the  scheme.     It  is  difficult  to  adequately 

present  to  those  of   our   readers  who   have   been    precluded    from  visiting 

the   Exhibition   an   idea  of   the  work  involved,  or  to  convey  to  each  and 

all  of  the  workers  their  due  meed  of  recognition.     Since  the  initial  meeting, 

many   months    since,   the    organization    of    the   work   connected   with    the 

Exhibition   has   been   divided    into  various    Sub-Committees,  each   and    all 

of  whom  have  striven  zealously  to  make  success  assured.     On  the  Executive 

Committee  has  fallen  the  bulk  of  the  work,  and  it  is  from  this  body  that  the 

several  Sub-Committees  for  the  Catalogues,  for  Entertainment,  for  Publicity, 

for  Hanging,  or  for  General  Purposes,  have  been  selected  ;  and  it  is  to  the 

gentlemen  who  have  so  loyally  co-operated  in   this  work   that  the  thanks 

of  the  Philatelic  community  are  due.      Beyond  this,  however,  in  no  small 

measure  is  the  successful   issue  of  the  Exhibition  due  to  the  great  ability, 

energy,  and  courtesy  of  Mr.  J.  A.  Tilleard,  the  Secretary,  and  in  scarcely 

less  degree  to  his  trusty  lieutenant,  Mr.  Gordon  Smith.     Recognition  is  also 

due  to  the  difficult  and  protracted  labours  of  the  judges,  and  it  is  safe  to  say 

the  inclusion  of  such  illustrious  names  in  the  Philatelic  roll  has  done  much 

to  add  to  the  prestige  of  the  Exhibition. 


THE  INAUGURAL  CEREMONY. 

With  the  punctuality  that  is  Royalty's  politeness,  the  hour  of  three  o'clock 
on  Thursday,  the  22nd  July,  was  scarce  complete  before  their  Royal 
Highnesses  the  Duke  and  Duchess  of  York  were  crossing  the  portals  of 
the  Royal  Institute  of  Painters  in  Water  Colours.  The  handsome  vestibule 
and  staircase,  giving  access  to  the  splendid  suite  of  rooms,  was  tastefully 
decorated  with  flowers.  The  Royal  visitors  were  received  in  the  Central 
Gallery  by  the  Reception  Committee,  each  member  of  which  had  the  honour 
of  presentation  to  their  Royal  Highnesses.  The  Duke  of  York  then  in 
a  very  short  speech  declared  the  Exhibition  open,  and  escorted  by  members 
of  the  Reception  Committee,  the  Duke  and  Duchess  made  an  extended  tour 
of  the  rooms,  displaying  much  interest  in  many  of  the  exhibits,  and  charming 
all  those  whose  privilege  it  was  to  accompany  them  by  their  gracious  and 
sympathetic  observations.  The  Duke  of  York's  Philatelic  knowledge  is 
well  known  to  the  inner  circle,  but  we  fancy  that  his  intimate  acquaintance 
with   Philately,  as  disclosed   by  his   remarks  and  questions,  will   afford   a 


i8o  THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION. 

welcome  surprise  to  many  who  were  present  on  the  opening  day.  The 
Duchess  was  naturally  interested  in  the  sight  of  the  plates  of  the  Prince 
of  Wales's  Hospital  Fund  Stamps,  whose  destruction  she  had  witnessed, 
and  evinced  a  lively  interest  in  the  book  of  curious  addresses  so  kindly 
exhibited  by  the  Post  Office  authorities.  "  Mrs.  Queen  Buckam  Palis 
to  be  taken  care  of,"  may  perhaps  be  cited  as  one  that  amused  Her  Royal 
Highness. 

The  Royal  visit  extended  for  over  an  hour,  and  on  its  conclusion 
the  Duke  and  Duchess  graciously  expressed  their  approval  of  the  Exhibition, 
and  their  congratulations  to  the  Committee  on  its  success,  His  Royal 
Highness  expressing  his  intention  of  revisiting  it.  The  judges  had  the 
honour  of  presentation  to  the  Duke,  and  the  Reception  Committee  escorted 
the  Royal  party  to  their  carriages. 

Miss  Castle,  the  daughter  of  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee,  had  the 
honour  of  an  introduction  to  the  Duchess  of  York,  and  presented  her  with  a 
magnificent  bouquet  of  white  and  mauve  orchids,  which  Her  Royal  Highness 
was  graciously  pleased  to  accept.  Attendant  upon  the  Royal  visitors  were 
Lady  Mary  Lygon  and  the  Hon.  Derek  Keppel,  and  it  will  doubtless 
interest  our  lady  readers  if  we  state  that  the  Duchess,  who  looked  charming 
and  in  the  best  of  health  and  spirits,  was  attired  in  a  cream-coloured  dress 
of  such  a  handsome  nature  that  it  baffles  the  descriptive  powers  of  the 
sterner  sex. 

The  attendance  of  visitors  upon  the  opening  day  was  large  and  brilliant, 
including  many  ladies,  among  whom  we  noticed  Mrs.  Tebay,  Mrs.  Hausburg, 
Mrs.  G.  W.  Willett  and  the  Misses  Willett,  Mrs.  Stanley  Taylor,  the  Misses 
Phillips,  and  Miss  Castle.  We  have  reason  to  believe  that  the  arrangements 
made  afforded  the  Royal  visitors  due  satisfaction,  and  on  the  part  of  the 
Philatelic  public  it  may  assuredly  be  asserted  that  the  inauguration  of  the 
London  Philatelic  Exhibition  of  1897  was  in  every  way  a  delightful  and  a 
successful  affair. 


VISITS  OF  T.R.H.  THE  PRINCE  OF  WALES  AND 
THE   DUKE   OF   YORK. 

The  Exhibition  has  been  signally  favoured  in  its  Royal  visitors,  as,  in 
addition  to  his  presence  at  the  inaugural  ceremony,  H.R.H.  the  Duke  of 
York  has  twice  attended,  and,  on  the  morning  of  the  23rd,  was  accompanied 
by  H.R.H.  the  Prince  of  Wales.  The  Royal  visit  on  this  occasion  was 
absolutely  satis  ccremotiie,  and  proved  somewhat  of  a  surprise  to  some 
members  of  the  Executive  Committee,  who  had  the  honour  of  presentation 
to  the  Prince.  His  Royal  Highness  expressed  to  Mr.  Castle,  the  Chairman 
of  the  Committee,  his  congratulation  upon  the  success  of  the  Exhibition,  and 
in  company  with  the  Duke  of  York,  and  under  the  able  guidance  of  Mr. 
Tilleard,  the  Secretary,  made  a  thorough  inspection  of  the  galleries,  visiting 
the  dealers'  stalls,  and  evincing  throughout  a  marked  interest  in  all  the 
phases  of  the  undertaking.  The  distinction  conferred  upon  the  Exhibition 
by  the  presence  of  the  Prince  of  Wales  will  be  gratefully  acknowledged  by 
all  sections  of  the  Philatelic  community.     The  Duke  of  York  subsequently 


THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION.  i8i 

paid  a  lengthened  visit,  and,  accompanied  by  the  Secretary  and  other 
gentlemen,  made  an  exhaustive  examination  of  the  various  exhibits,  in  every 
class,  with  which  he  was  pleased  to  express  his  entire  approval.  His  Royal 
Highness  was  naturally  especially  interested  in  the  stamps  of  the  British  and 
Colonial  Section,  of  which  he  possesses  so  fine  a  collection,  specimens  thereof 
being  included  in  the  Exhibition.  The  displays  of  Mr.  White's  English, 
Baron  A.  de  Worms'  Ceylon,  Baron  A.  de  Reuterskiold's  Turks  Islands  (of 
which  latter  His  Royal  Highness  has  a  strong  collection),  perhaps  appealed 
especially  to  his  sympathies.  Apropos  of  this,  a  pleasing  incident  of  His 
Royal  Highness's  first  visit  may  be  here  cited.  The  Duchess  of  York  was 
examining  the  sixpenny  Canadian  Stamps  of  Mr.  Duveen,  and  expressing 
to  Mr.  Castle  her  surprise  at  the  appearance  of  the  late  Prince  Consort's 
portrait  on  the  stamps,  which  Her  Royal  Highness  had  promptly  recognized, 
appealed  to  the  Duke  as  to  his  possession  of  this  stamp.  The  Duke 
with  a  superior  Philatelic  smile,  replied  that  it  was  the  twelve  penny  of  the 
same  issue  that  he  lacked ! 

THE    GALLERIES. 

Our  readers  will  recollect  that  illustrations  of  these  spacious  and  hand- 
some galleries  have  already  been  given  in  the  Londoti  Philatelist,  thus 
rendering  a  lengthened  description  unnecessary.  Situate  in  the  very  heart 
of  fashionable  London,  spacious,  lofty,  and  lit  from  above,  the  Rooms  of 
the  Royal  Institute  of  Painters  in  Water  Colours  are  peculiarly  adaptable 
for  the  purpose  of  showing  stamps.  The  entrance  from  Piccadilly,  with  its 
grand  staircase  decorated  with  palms  and  flowers,  with  its  comfortable 
lounges  and  marbled  walls,  creates  at  once  a  favourable  impression  in  the 
visitor,  which  is  heightened  on  entering  the  central  room,  entirely  occupied 
by  the  stamps  of  Great  Britain  and  its  Colonies.  The  largest  room,  however, 
is  that  communicating  on  the  left,  which  is  devoted  to  the  special  collection 
of  countries  other  than  those  last  named,  and  with  its  many  rows  of  upright 
cases  —  all  especially  made  for  this  Exhibition  —  presents  an  imposing 
appearance.  It  is  significant  of  the  times  that,  with  the  exception  of  two 
or  three  cases  containing  rare  stamps,  these  two  galleries  should  contain 
nothing  but  Classes  I.  and  II.,  i.e.,  specialised  collections  of  different 
countries !  The  room  entering  to  the  right  contains  the  exhibits  of  albums, 
books,  etc.,  but  is  principally  occupied  by  the  stalls  of  the  dealers,  which 
have  been  specially  constructed,  and  seem  to  have  given  general  satisfaction. 
Another  large  room  upstairs  is  crowded  with  the  general  collections,  and 
contains,  in  addition,  an  important  section  of  the  South  American  stamps 
(unavoidably  crowded  out  from  the  lower  gallery),  the  exhibits  of  the 
Colonial  Governments,  and  many  frames  of  stamps,  in  addition  to  Messrs. 
Perkins  and  Bacon's  original  perforating  machine,  and  many  other  objects 
of  interest.  The  tout  ensemble  of  the  Galleries,  with  their  apparently  in- 
terminable series  of  brightly-coloured  exhibits  and  throng  of  interested 
spectators,  presents  alike  a  pleasing  and  an  impressive  appearance. 


iS2  THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION. 


DINNER    OF    THE    PHILATELIC    SOCIETY    OF    LONDON, 
AND    OTHER    ENTERTAINMENTS. 

The  presence  of  so  many  visitors  at  the  Exhibition  has  naturally  formed 

the  basis  of  many  extremely  pleasant  reunions,  and  we  can  but  regret  that 

the  demands  on  our  space  preclude  anything  more  than  a  passing  reference 

thereto,  premising  that  in  all  cases  the  camaraderie  of  Philately,  regardless 

of  all  national  distinctions,  was  never  more  delightfully  and  strongly  evinced. 

The  dinner  of  the  London  Philatelic  Society,  which  had  been  purposely 

adjourned  until  the  Exhibition  fortnight,  was  held  at  the  Cafe  Monico  on 

Tuesday   the   27th,   and   was   very   largely   attended,   nearly   one   hundred 

gentlemen  being  present,  including  many  of  those  whose  names  we  have 

cited,  and  many  well-known   members   of   the    London  Society  and  their 

guests.      Among  the  more  important  guests  may  be  named  M.  P.  Mahe, 

M.   H.  Breitfuss,  Dr.   H.   Fraenkel  (Judges   of   the    Exhibition),   Mr.   J.    S. 

Purcell,  C.B.,  and    Mr.    Maitland    Burnett   (ex-Secretary  London    Philatelic 

Society).     The  Vice-President,  Mr.  M.  P.  Castle,  occupied  the  chair,  and  in 

proposing   the  Royal   toasts  called  especial  attention   to  the  great  service 

rendered  to  Philately  by  the  President  of  the  London  Society,  H.R.H.  the 

Duke  of  York.     The  enthusiasm  with  which  these  remarks  were  received 

was  redoubled  when,  during  Mr.  Tilleard's  reply  to  the  toast  of  the  Philatelic 

Society,  that  gentleman  announced  the  receipt  of  a  telegram  from  H.R.H. 

at  Goodwood  wishing  success  to  the  dinner.     The  Chairman,  in  proposing 

the  toast  of  the  evening,  called  especial  attention  to  the  fact  of  there  being 

so  many  distinguished  and  welcome  guests  present,  dwelling  upon  the  great 

success  achieved  by  the  Exhibition,  and  thanked  all  those  who  had  assisted 

in  the  work,  notably  Messrs.  J.  A.  Tilleard  (the  Secretary)  and  Mr.  Gordon 

Smith,  both  gentlemen  being  received  with  an  ovation  on  rising  to  respond 

to  toasts.      "  The  Officers  and   Council  of   the  Society "  was  proposed  in 

eloquent  terms  by  Mr.  Maitland  Burnett,  ex-Secretary  of  the  Society,  who 

also   met  with  a  great  and   deserved  reception.      Several  other  toasts,  an 

excellent  selection  of  music,  and  a  recherche  dinner,  combined  to  render  the 

evening  thoroughly  enjoyable. 

Favoured  by  delightful  weather,  an  absolutely  perfect  day's  enjoyment 
was  that  of  Saturday,  the  24th  July,  when  some  fifty  gentlemen  travelling  to 
Taplow  in  special  saloons,  proceeded  in  a  launch  to  Clieveden  Wood,  thence 
returning  to  the  residence  of  Mr.  W.  B.  Avery,  Oakley  Court,  Maidenhead, 
where  they  were  sumptuously  entertained  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Avery,  and  after 
several  hours  passed  in  the  lovely  grounds  of  Oakley  Court,  where  every 
possible  form  of  recreation  had  been  lavishly  provided,  were  conveyed  in 
the  launch  to  Windsor,  and  thence  entrained  to  London.  "  Nothing  more 
delightful  could  have  been  conceived,"  was  the  expression  of  the  many 
foreign  visitors  who  were  present,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Avery  were  again  and 
again  thanked  for  their  great  hospitality  and  courtesy. 

An  evening  concert  and  conversazione  was  held  at  St.  Martin's  Town 
Hall  on  Thursday,  July  29th,  which  was  largely  attended  by  the  Philatelists 
and  visitors  present  at  the  Exhibition.      The   function  was  graced  by  the 


THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION  183 

presence  of  many  ladies,  and  a  pleasant  and  enjoyable  evening  was  passed, 
thanks  to  the  Entertainment  Committee,  whose  forethought  had  secured 
the  invaluable  services  of  Mr.  Ridpath  and  his  Philatelic  Lantern 
Exhibition,  which  was  much  appreciated  by  all  present,  and  the  especial 
points  of  which  were  described  by  members  of  the  London  Philatelic 
Society.  Mrs.  Hunt's  charming  ladies'  orchestra,  Mr.  G.  Robins'  vocalism, 
and  Mr.  Chas.  Capper's  marvellous  whistling,  combined  to  render  the 
conversazione  successful  in  every  respect. 

The  interchange  of  hospitalities  among  the  Philatelists  and  visitors 
present  was  so  continuous  as  to  verify  the  Chairman's  remark  at  the  dinner 
of  the  Philatelic  Society,  that  an  exhibition  necessitated,  in  addition  to 
other  virtues,  the  digestion  of  an  ostrich  on  the  part  of  the  participants. 
Among  a  few  of  the  pleasant  evenings  passed  we  may  cite — a  splendid 
dinner  at  the  Hotel  Cecil  on  the  26th,  given  by  Mr.  C.  J.  Phillips  to  the 
judges,  visitors,  and  other  gentlemen  ;  a  dinner,  given  to  the  judges  and  other 
gentlemen,  by  Mr.  M.  P.  Castle,  Chairman  of  the  Executive,  at  the  Sports'  Club, 
on  the  28th  ;  a  dinner  at  the  Caf6  Royal,  given  by  Messrs.  Breitfuss  and 
Fraenkel,  on  the  30th,  to  their  confreres  and  other  gentlemen  ;  and  yet 
another,  given  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Peckitt,  at  the  Trocadero,  on  the  3rd  August. 
Each  and  all  of  these  functions  were  productive,  in  the  opinion  of  all  who 
partook  therein,  of  many  pleasurable  hours,  the  hospitality  being  as  lavish 
as  the  names  of  those  present  were  distinguished  in  the  Philatelic  world. 
Dinners  were  also  given  by  Mr.  J.  N.  Luff,  Mr.  W.  T.  Willett,  Mr.  R. 
Ehrenbach,  and  many  others ;  and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  when  the  Exhibi- 
tion closed  each  and  all  departed  with  the  happy  conviction  that  much 
had  been  done  to  entwine  still  closer  the  bonds  of  Philatelic  friendship  in 
its  most  cosmopolitan  aspect.  Mr.  C.  J.  and  the  Misses  Phillips  enter- 
tained a  large  party  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  at  Amyand  House,  Twickenham, 
on  the  3rd  August,  a  delightful  excursion  being  made  on  the  river  up  to 
Sunbury,  brilliant  weather  and  unbounded  hospitality  combining  to  perfect 
everyone's  enjoyment. 

VISITORS    TO    THE    EXHIBITION. 

The  attendance  of  Philatelists  and  the  general  public  has  perforce  been 
so  extended  and  varied  from  day  to  day  that  a  record  of  all  who  have 
passed  the  turnstiles  is  practically  unattainable.  Independently  of  the 
Royal  visitors,  the  judges,  collectors,  and  dealers  residing  in  or  near  the 
Metropolis,  the  members  of  the  General  and  other  Committees,  the  presence 
of  the  bearers  of  many  well-known  names  can  be  cited,  e.g.,  The  Baron 
and  Baroness  de  Worms  and  Baron  A.  de  Worms,  Baron  A.  de  Reuterskiold, 
Dr.  Stanley  Taylor,  Messrs.  J.  S.  Purcell,  C.B.,  P.  Mirabaud,  Thos.  De  La  Rue, 
W.  Thome,  H.  K.  Sanderson,  J.  N.  Luff,  E.  Smith  (Mass.),  Th.  Lemaire, 
A.  Rosenberg,  T.  Briick,  Van  Hoek,  S.  de  Wilde,  H.  Duveen,  W.  B.  Avery, 
W.  W.  Blest,  H.  Buckley  (Norway),  O.  Wheeler,  H.  L.  Hayman,  W.  Beckton 
(sen.),  Vernon  Roberts,  A.  W.  Harrison,  Stanley  Castle,  C.  Willadt,  C. 
J.  Lambert,  R.  Friedl,  W.  T.  Willett,  K.  W.  F.  Schafer,  E.  Sohn, 
Maitland  Burnett,  E.  Fino,  H.  Kuhnle,  J.  H.  Smythe  (Sydney),  F.  Bang, 
J.  Bernichon,  and  many  others. 


1 84  THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION. 


THE    BROAD    RESULT. 

Demands  upon  time  and  space  preclude  anything  at  present  beyond 
the  briefest  restime  of  the  results  attaching  to  the  London  Philatelic  Exhi- 
bition of  1897.  The  financial  results  have  necessarily  yet  to  be  ascertained, 
but  the  augury  is  favourable,  and  beyond  this  there  can  be  no  two  opinions 
as  to  the  absolute  and  unqualified  success  of  the  undertaking.  It  has  been 
clearly  demonstrated  that  Philately  has  made  enormous  strides,  and  that  the 
specialised  collections  shown  in  1897  are,  as  a  whole,  far  in  advance  of  any 
that  have  preceded  them,  whether  in  the  choice  and  wealth  of  specimens,  or 
the  Philatelic  knowledge  displayed.  In  the  case  of  Great  Britain  the  extra- 
ordinary displays  of  Mr.  White,  the  gold  medallist,  Messrs.  Willett,  Selby, 
Eliot  Levy,  and  others,  show  how  enormously  risen  is  the  estimation  of 
the  stamps  of  our  own  country;  and  while  the  displays  of  Messrs.  de  Worms, 
Duveen,  Avery,  Blest,  and  many  others,  have  worthily  maintained  the 
prestige  of  the  British  Colonial  Stamps,  the  status  of  the  stamps  of  Europe 
and  America  has  been  materially  enhanced  by  displays  such  as  those  of 
Messrs.  Oldfield,  Hall,  Duveen,  Ginn,  Ehrenbach,  Rosenberg,  Castle,  and 
many  others. 

The  general  arrangements  of  the  Exhibition  have  elicited  unstinted 
praise  from  all  present,  and  the  labours  of  Mr.  Tilleard,  Mr.  Gordon  Smith, 
and  the  members  of  the  Executive  Committee,  great  as  they  have  been, 
are  appreciated  at  their  fullest.  The  arrangements  for  the  Dealers'  Stalls 
seem  to  have  given  general  satisfaction,  and  the  gallery  devoted  to  them 
formed  an  important  and  attractive  feature  in  the  Exhibition.  The 
Catalogue,  with  its  beautifully  designed  cover,  printed  in  an  admirable 
manner  by  Messrs.  Perkins,  Bacon,  and  Co.,  Ltd.,  reflects  great  credit  to 
the  Committee,  and  will  be  an  abiding  memento  of  the  Philatelic  Exhibi- 
tion of  the  Diamond  Jubilee  year. 

THE    EXHIBITS. 

No  amount  of  description  can  accurately  represent  the  tout  ensemble  of 
the  magnificent  array  of  stamps  shown.  Taken  as  a  whole,  whether  as 
regards  quantity,  condition  of  specimens,  or  Philatelic  arrangement,  the 
Exhibition  of  the  Diamond  Jubilee  year  must  be  held  to  have  quite  eclipsed 
anything  that  has  preceded  it.  So  many  were  the  stamps  submitted  that 
in  some  cases  the  Hanging  Committee  were  unable  to  display  more  than 
a  portion  of  the  exhibits,  and  several  countries  which  had  been  proposed 
to  be  represented  hors  concoiirs,  with  a  view  to  a  Philatelic  representation 
of  every  kind,  were  entirely  absent,  owing  to  the  repletion  of  the  Galleries. 
We  append  a  list  of  the  more  striking  exhibits  under  their  several  classes, 
following  the  order  of  the  Catalogue. 


THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION  185 


CLASS    I.     GREAT   BRITAIN. 

Exhibits  which  were  entered  as  "  not  for  competition "  are  distinguished  by  a  label 

to  this  effect,  and  are  marked  *. 

Division  I. 

Adhesive  Postage  Stamps,  Unused. 

THE  GRAND  PRIZE  (SPECIAL  GOLD  MEDAL)     .     H.  J.  White. 
GOLD   MEDAL     .  .  .  .  .  .     H.  J.  White. 

SILVER        „  .  .  .  .  .  .      W.  T.  WiLLETT. 

BRONZE    „  .  .  .  .  .  .     E.  H.  Selby. 

White,  H.  J. — This  exhibit,  by  a  peculiar  coincidence,  not  only  occupies  the 
first  number  of  the  Catalogue,  but  has  obtained  the  Grand  Prize  of  the  Exhibition 
— the  Special  Gold  Medal — with  unanimous  approval.  The  stamps  shown  included  : 
id.,  black,  V.R.,  block  of  four  with  margin  showing  "A";  id.,  black,  six  blocks, 
showing  Plate  numbers ;  ditto,  red,  blocks,  many  with  Plate  numbers,  the  perforated 
series  being  also  fully  represented  by  blocks  and  specimens  of  all  shades  and 
varieties ;  ditto,  with  letters  in  all  angles,  forty-nine  blocks  with  margins  showing  the 
Plate  number;  i|d.,  Plate  i,  error  of  lettering,  in  lilac-rose  and  in  rose-red;  2d., 
without  hues,  including  two  pairs  and  a  strip  of  three;  ditto.  Small  Crown,  perf.  14, 
blocks  of  six  and  ten,  and  six  single  specimens;  ditto.  Large  Crown,  perf.  16, 
two  of  Plate  5  and  one  of  Plate  6.  Octagonals :  6d. — thirty-one,  including  four 
pairs  and  a  block  of  six;  lod. — twenty-six,  including  one  without  die  number, 
two  pairs  and  two  blocks  of  four;  is. — twenty,  including  a  blocK  of  eight  and  a 
pair;  2|d.,  pairs  or  larger  blocks  of  all  Plates  in  lilac-rose  (except  No.  9),  and 
ditto,  blue,  all  Plates ;  3d.,  small  letters,  blocks  of  nine  and  four,  and  two  pairs  ; 
large  letters,  pairs  or  larger  blocks  of  all  Plates  (except  7  and  8) ;  Plate  4,  Spray, 
a  complete  pane  of  twenty;  also  panes  of  Plates  5,  6,  11,  18,  19,  and  20;  4d., 
Small  Garter,  a  pair  and  two  singles ;  Medium  Garter,  on  blue,  three,  and  on  white, 
two  strips  of  three ;  Large  Garter,  two  blocks  of  four  and  one  of  eight ;  4d.,  small 
letters,  blocks  and  pairs  of  each  Plate,  including  a  pair  of  Plate  3  with  marginal 
number;  large  letters,  pairs  or  larger  blocks  of  all  Plates  except  No.  8,  and  many 
with  marginal  number ;  6d.,  pairs  or  blocks  of  all  Plates  (including  Plate  6,  Spray) 
and  complete  panes  of  Plates  5,  9,  and  12  (grey).  9d.,  pairs  of  both  small  and 
large  letter  varieties,  and  also  a  specimen  of  Plate  5;  lod.,  pairs  and  block,  and 
a  copy  of  Plate  2  ;  is.,  no  letters,  block  of  six  and  three  pairs,  and  all  later  Plates 
in  pairs  or  blocks,  panes  of  Plates  4  (both  watermarks),  7,  11,  12  in  green,  13  (both 
watermarks)  and  14  in  brown;  2s.,  blue,  many  shades,  in  pairs  and  blocks,  and 
brown,  a  complete  pane  of  twenty;  2s  6d.,  5s.,  and  los.,  blue,  large  number  of 
shades;  los.,  Maltese  Cross,  a  pair  and  two  singles,  and  Anchor,  two;  ^i,  Maltese 
Cross,  three,  and  Anchor  two,  and  the  oblong  stamps  in  both  watermarks,  and  the 
;^5  on  blue  paper.  All  later  values  amply  displayed.  In  addition  to  the  regular 
issues  is  a  complete  set  of  all  values  and  Plates  from  the  iniprimatur  sheets, 
many  colour  trials,  and  imperforate  varieties,  die  proofs  (in.  black),  besides 
many  interesting  varieties  of  surcharged  stamps  which  were  proposed  but  never 
adopted.  The  official  issues  of  Government  Parcels,  I.R.  Official,  etc.,  are  also 
completely  represented.  Postal  Fiscals  include  some  of  the  scarcer  varieties  of  the 
3d.  and  the  embossed  series,  a  pair  of  the  is.,  pink  (with  border),  imperf.,  tete-bkhe. 

Most  of  the  Official  Telegraphs  are  exhibited  also  in  Division  III.,  unused;  also 
a  set  of  the  Government  Telegraphs  cut  from  the  approved  sheets.  The  display  of 
the  2d  ,  perf.  16,  Large  Crown,  Plate  6,  needs  strengthening ;  but  apart  from  this  there 
appear  to  be  only  two  stamps  wanting — the  gd.,  hair-lines,  and  the  2^d.,  with  error  of 
lettering,  on  Plate  2.  We  mention  this  as  corroborating  the  universal  opinion  which 
has  been  expressed  as  to  the  exceptional  character  of  the  exhibit.  Such  a  collection 
of  Great  Britain  has  never  before  been  accumulated,  and  is  undoubtedly  unique. 

Willett,  W.  T. — A  beautiful  exhibit,  in  mint  condition.  V.R.,  id.,  black,  a 
magnificent  pair  with  marginal  Plate-letter  "A."  Early  issues,  shades  of  all  varieties 
of  the  id.  value,  inclusive  of  a  pair  of  Plate  116,  imperforate.     Twopence,  water- 


1 86  THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION. 

mark  Large  Crown,  perf.  16,  with  thin  hnes  (a  grand  strip  of  three);  ditto,  Small 
Crown,  perf.  14,  a  pair,  and  all  other  varieties  of  this  value.  The  embossed  head 
series  comprise  6d.  (eighteen),  lod.  (eighteen),  and  is.  (sixteen).  Five  shades  of 
the  4d.,  Small  Garter,  two  of  the  Medium  on  bleute  and  three  on  white  paper.  Of 
subsequent  issues  a  wide  range  of  shades,  all  in  magnificent  condition.  The  2s.  6d., 
5s.,  los.,  and  j£,\  in  both  watermarks,  and  there  is  a  ^5  on  bluish  paper. 

Selby,  E.  H. — This  is  another  grand  show,  and  well  deserves  its  awards,  id., 
black,  V.R.,  a  fine  block  of  four,  "Archer"  roulette,  block  of  four,  and  pairs  of  most 
of  the  id.  varieties.  2d.,  no  lines,  block  of  six,  Small  Crown,  perf.  14,  a  pair,  and  a 
single  of  the  Large  Crown,  perf.  15.  Octagonals  :  6d,  ten,  including  a  block  of  three 
and  a  pair;  lod.,  thirteen,  including  a  block  of  eight;  and  is.,  three  specimens; 
4d.,  Small  Garter,  and  ditto.  Medium  Garter  on  white,  three  copies ;  6d.,  Emblems, 
Plate  6,  block  of  four;  5s.,  Plate  4,  three  on  bluish,  one  on  white  paper.  \Vater- 
mark  Maltese  Cross,  los.,  three,  J[^\,  two;  watermark  Anchor,  los.,  one.  Nearly  all 
varieties  illustrated  by  at  least  five  specimens,  in  many  cases  in  pairs  and  blocks. 
There  was  also  shown  in  Division  IIL,  in  Telegraph  stamps,  the  Government  issues 
complete  up  to  the  3s.,  in  unused  condition,  both  Plate  numbers  and  watermarks 
being  represented,  also  a  fine  lot  of  "  Specimen  "  sets,  etc. 

MoRLEY,  W. — A  well-selected  and  difficult  exhibit  of  Fiscal  Stamps  available  for 
postage.  i860,  embossed,  imperf,  2d.,  3d.  (four),  6d.,  gd.,  is.,  and  2s.  6d.,  and 
perf,  2d.  and  2s.  6d. ;  1875  issue,  imperf,  2d.,  gd.,  is.,  and  perforated,  is.  and  2s.  6d. 
All  the  surface-printed  stamps,  including  the  various  watermarks  of  the  3d.  and  6d., 
as  well  as  the  small  id.,  showing  all  the  alterations  of  the  die,  all  varieties  of  the 
large  Receipt  stamps  in  blue  and  brown,  together  with  a  set  of  imperforate  specimens. 

Division   IL 

Adhesive  Postage  Stamps,  Used. 

SILVER   MEDAL  .  .  .  .     F.  West. 

West,  F. — Specimens  of  all  the  Plate  numbers,  many  shades  and  specimens  of 
all  values,  including  |d.,  Plate  9,  a  desirable  strip  of  three.  Octagonal  issue,  is., 
thirty-six;  lod.,  sixteen;  6d.,  thirty-six;  all  picked  copies,  with  good  margins. 
Among  the  6d.,  Plate  12  in  dark  brown,  and  Plate  13  in  brown,  are  noticeable;  and 
2id.,  Plate  2,  error  of  lettering.  The  quality  of  this  collection  is  of  a  very  high 
order,  and  demonstrates  that  used  stamps  afford  opportunities  for  the  display  of 
judgment  and  taste  in  the  retention  of  really  fine  copies. 

Division  IIL 

Telegraph   Stamps. 

SILVER  MEDAL     .  .  .     Gordon  Smith. 

BRONZE        „  .  .  .     W.  Matthews. 

Smith,  Gordon. — A  representative  collection  of  the  Private  Companies'  stamps, 
and  a  fine  accumulation  of  the  Government  Telegraphs. 

Matthews,  W. — A  series  of  the  Private  Companies'  stamps,  including  the 
IS.  2d.,  2S.  3d.,  and  2s.  gd.  of  the  South-Eastern  Railway,  as  also  a  general  lot  of  the 
Government  Telegraphs,  etc.,  which  has  obtained  the  Bronze  Medal. 

Sandars,  E.  T. — The  Government  Telegraphs,  the  specimens  comprising 
chiefly  die  proofs,  and  specimens  cut  from  the  approved  sheets. 

Special   Awards. 

For  Unused  Postage  and  Telegraph  Stamps  of  Great  Britam. 
Presented  by  W.  H.  Peckitt,  Esq. 

GOLD  MEDAL  .  .  .     H.  J.  White. 

SILVER     „  .  .  .     E.  H.  Selby. 

For  the  best  Exhibit  by  an  amateur  not  a  member  of  the  Philatelic 
Society,  London.    Presented  by  the  Society. 
GOLD  MEDAL  .  .  .     \\ .  T.  Willett. 


THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION.  187 

CLASS  II.     BRITISH  EMPIRE. 

Section  A. 
GOLD  MEDAL  .  .     W.  W.  Blest  (New  South  Wales). 

SILVER     „  .  .     H.  J.  DuvEEN  (British  Guiana). 

BRONZE  „  .  .     Dr.  F.  Bowers  (New  South  Wales). 

New  South  Wales. 

Blest,  W.  W. — A  brilliant  lot  of  unused  "Sydney  Views,"  including  id.,  Plate  i, 
seven,  and  Plate  2,  six;  the  2d.,  Plate  i,  three;  Plate  2,  nine;  Plate  3,  one; 
Plate  4,  four;  Plate  5,  three;  and  3d.,  four — thirty-six  in  all.  The  "  Laureated," 
unused,  include  two  copies  of  the  id.,  on  laid  paper;  two  of  the  2d.,  with  stars  in 
corner;  two  each  of  the  6d.,  Plates  i  and  2  ;  and  one  of  the  8d.  and  one  of  the  3d., 
watermark  "2."  In  the  1855  issue  the  6d.  and  is.,  with  error  of  watermark  "8"; 
the  complete  series  perforated  12;  and  all  subsequent  varieties,  are  to  be  noted. 
The  registered  stamps,  imperforate,  a  block  of  eight,  and  three  unused,  with 
orange  centre  (perf.  12).  The  first  two  issues  of  this  Colony  are  also  represented  used 
by  selected  copies  of  all  plates,  shades,  and  varieties.  This  exhibit  was  deservedly 
much  admired,  the  gem  being  a  matchless  3d.  of  Issue  I. 

British  Guiana. 

*  Avery,  W.  B. — The  issues  of  1850,  1852,  1853,  1856,  and  1862  only.  There 
are  thirteen  specimens  of  the  first  issue,  including  one  of  the  2  c.,  and  one  of  the  4  c. 
(cut  square),  on  pelu re  paper.  The  1852  stamps  unused  and  used,  and  eight  copies  of 
the  4  c.,  1856  issue,  two  of  which  are  on  the  blue-surfaced  paper.  The  1853  issue 
unused  and  used,  including  an  unused  specimen  of  the  4  c.,  with  line  round  the 
figures  of  the  date,  with  grand  margins,  and  the  stamps  of  1862,  besides  the  separate 
specimens,  in  complete  sheets. 

Duveen,  H.  J. — 1850-51  "Circular"  2  c.,  rose,  a  magnificent  pair  on  original 
letter ;  the  4  c.  and  8  c.  together,  and  4  c.  on  pehcre,  both  on  original  letters ;  four 
copies  of  the  12  c.,  including  one  on  "sugar"  paper;  1852,  i  c,  magenta,  unused, 
and  a  pair  used  and  four  of  the  4  c.,  blue  ;  1856  issue,  4  c,  magenta,  three,  and  4  c, 
blue,  two;  of  the  provisional  issue  of  1862,  unused  and  used  examples  of  the  promi- 
nent varieties;  and  all  other  issues  from  i860  downwards,  including  the  surcharged 
provisionals  of  1878  and  1881  in  an  unused  state,  amongst  them  being  the  24  c.,  perf. 
12,  on  thick  paper,  and  the  4  c.  of  1876,  watermark  Cr.  CC,  perf.  12^. 

The  later  issues  leave  room  for  improvement,  but  the  first  is  very  strong,  nearly  all 
the  specimens  being  cut  square,  and  several  remaining  on  their  original  covers. 

Cashmere. 

Hancock,  Capt.  R  H. — A  selection  of  the  rarer  stamps  of  this  country,  including 
l^a.,  green,  and  i  a.,  purple,  and  i  a.,  red,  of  the  first  type  circulars;  three  specimens 
of  the  ^a.,  black,  1294,  single  type ;  seven  of  the  |-a.,  and  five  of  the  i  a.,  1294  issue, 
in  black,  and  a  pair  of  the  i  a.,  in  blue ;  a  fine  exhibit. 

New  South  Wales. 

*Avery,  W.  B. — Sydney  Views,  unused;  id.,  Plate  i,  three;  Plate  2,  five, 
including  a  pair  on  blue  paper.  The  2d.,  Plate  2,  two.  There  are  reconstructed 
plates  of  the  id.,  two  plates  of  each  (four  in  all),  in  which  unused  specimens  may  be 
found,  and  nine  of  the  2d.,  illustrating  the  various  stages  of  the  plate  and  papers 
employed ;  and  of  the  3d.,  two  plates.  In  "  Laureated  "  there  are  a  strip  of  ten  of 
the  2d.,  Plate  i  (unused),  the  3d.,  a  block  of  six,  also  unused ;  and  the  6d.,  coarse 
background,  a  magnificent  block  of  two  horizontal  rows  of  five,  with  full  gum;  and 
two  singles  unused.  Among  the  reconstructed  plates  of  this  type  is  one  of  the  2d., 
watermarked  (containing  only  one  used  specimen),  in  which  is  a  block  of  thirty ;  and 
also  one  of  the  8d.  and  of  the  2d.  stars  in  corners.  In  the  large  square  stamps  are 
three  pairs  of  the  8d.,  and  an  unused  block  of  four  of  the  is.,  watermark  "  8."  In  the 
"  Diadem"  issue  is  a  pair  of  the  3d.,  watermark  "  2."  Subsequent  issues  are  represented, 
with  four  specimens  of  the  embossed  letter  sheet  of  1838.     A  superb  exhibit ! 


1 88  THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION. 

Bowers,  Dr.  F. — Plates  of  the  Sydney  Views :  id.,  Plate  i,  two  plates  complete 
on  different  papers.  Plate  2  on  bluish  and  on  "laid"  paper,  the  latter  complete  save 
Type  20;  2d.,  Plate  i,  and  the  same  retouched,  both  complete;  Plate  2  on  soft  paper 
complete,  and  on  hard  bluish  paper,  18  types;  Plate  3,  first  retouch,  on  hard  and 
on  laid  paper,  22  types,  and  on  bluish  19  types;  Plate  3,  second  retouch,  on  hard 
paper  complete,  save  Type  9;  and  on  laid  paper,  13  types;  3d.,  on  bluish  wove 
paper  complete,  and  partially  constructed  plates  on  laid  and  two  other  varieties  of 
paper.  The  plates  of  the  Laureated  issue  are  complete  as  regards  the  unwatermarked 
id.  and  2d.  (Plate  i),  and  are  partially  constructed  as  to  all  the  remaining  values  and 
varieties  of  paper.     The  Registered  Plate  imperforate  is  complete. 

Mauritius. 

*AvERY,  W.  B. — The  famed  pair  of  the  "Post  Office"  id.  and  2d.  unused  are 
here,  these  stamps  naturally  being  the  lion  of  the  Exhibition.  Specimens  of  the 
"  Post  Paid  "  in  both  values  are  found  on  the  various  papers,  and  in  different  states  of 
the  plate,  including  a  number  of  unused  copies  of  each  value ;  also  a  reconstructed 
plate  of  the  2d.  value ;  eleven  specimens  of  the  "  Large  Fillet,"  including  one 
unused.  The  "  Small  Fillet "  and  the  "  Greek  borders "  in  shades,  both  used  and 
unused.  In  the  "Britannias"  there  are  three  unobliterated  copies  of  the  rare 
surcharged  4d.  and  is.,  green,  perforated,  unused.  The  later  issues  are  present  in 
numerous  shades  and  varieties,  but  leave  some  room  for  improvement,  both  as  to  their 
condition  and  variety. 

Victoria. 

*AvERY,  W.  B. — The  first  issue  is  amply  displayed,  and  includes  many  unused. 
Subsequent  issues  are  represented  in  both  conditions  in  a  large  variety  of  specimens  ; 
and  a  copy  of  the  6d.  (beaded  oval)  unused  (though  somewhat  cut)  is  to  be  seen,  as 
also  a  used  specimen. 

Section  B. 

GOLD  MEDAL  .  .  .  Baron  A.  De  Worms  (Ceylon). 

SILVER     „  .  .  .  W.  W.  Blest  (New  Zealand). 

SILVER     „  .  .  .  Gordon  Smith  (South  Australia). 

SILVER     „  .  .  .  F.  Ransom  (Trinidad). 

BRONZE  „  .  .  .  W.  Hadlow  (Queensland). 

De  Worms,  Baron  A. — This  beautiful  exhibit,  in  the  opinion  of  many,  came  close 
to  the  Grand  Prize,  and  constituted  one  of  the  attractions  of  the  Exhibition. 
Amongst  the  unused  stamps:  First  issue,  id.,  block  of  12;  5d.,  lod.,  and  is.  gd., 
pair  of  each;  several  6d.,  is.,  and  2s.;  and  two  each  of  the  4d.,  8d.,  and  9d. 
Perforated,  watermark  Star,  a  pair  each  of  the  4d.,  two,  shades;  8d.,  brown  and 
mustard;  and  6d. ;  a  block  of  four  of  the  is. ;  and  two  copies  of  the  9d.,  lilac;  no 
watermark,  pairs  of  the  id.,  5d.,  6d.,  and  is.  Watermark  CC,  three  copies  of 
the  2d.  in  the  colour  of  the  "Star"  issue,  and  a  large  number  of  pairs  and 
blocks  of  the  other  values.  Watermark  CA,  16  c,  two;  24  c,  plum,  one;  the  32  c, 
perf  14  by  i2|;  and  the  2  r.  50  c,  perf.  12^.  Amongst  the  used,  a  pair  of  the 
4d.  (unique),  is.  gd  ,  and  2s.,  imperf,  as  well  as  a  large  number  of  pairs  of  the  other 
values,  the  condition  of  all  stamps  being  of  superlative  excellence. 

Pimm,  W. — First  issue  represented  by  used  copies  of  the  4d.,  9d.,  is.  9d.,  and  2s., 
and  among  the  subsequent  issues  are  included  the  scarce  varieties,  some  of  which  are 
unused. 

Canada— British  Columbia  and  Prince  Edward  Island. 

DuvEicN,  H.  J. — In  Canada,  unused,  1857,  laid  paper,  3d.  pair,  6d.  pair,  and 
four  singles,  and  the  i2d.,  used.  Wove  paper,  pairs  of  the  }A.,  6d.,  and  lod., 
and  ribbed  paper,  Id.  and  3d.  pair.  The  finest  thing  in  this  exhibit,  despite  the  i2d., 
is  in  our  opinion  the  pairs  of  the  6d.,  laid,  and  thin  wove,  unused.  Perforated, 
6d.,  two,  and  -M.,  on  ribbed  paper.  The  used  specimens  of  the  "pence"  issues 
include  i2d.,  laid,  and  wove,  y^d.,  pair;  lod.,  strip  of  three,  and  6d ,  on  thick 
paper,  strip  of  three.     In   the   "cents"  issue  the  10  c.   in  many  shades,  including 


THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION.  189 

the  black-brown,  and  the  5  c.  with  double  frame.  In  British  Columbia  and 
Vancouver  Island,  specimens  of  the  5  c.  Vancouver,  imperf.,  unused  and  used, 
and  in  the  last  set  the  10  c.  and  i  dollar,  perf  14,  also  unused.  In  Prince  Edward 
Island,  halves  of  the  2d.,  perf.  9,  and  the  6d.,  perf  it,  used,  on  parts  of  the  original 
covers. 

India. 

HvNES,  G.  J. — A  unique  uncut  sheet  of  1 20  of  the  \  anna,  red,  with  93  arches  ;  three 
sheets  of  the  \  anna,  blue,  with  different  dates  of  printing ;  two  sheets  of  the  i  anna ; 
two  sheets  of  the  2  annas ;  proof  sheets  in  black  and  in  red  of  the  \  anna  with 
8  arches,  and  reprints  of  two  of  the  4  anna  sheets,  one  with  twelve  and  the  other  with 
twenty-four  stamps ;  subsequent  issues  being  shown  in  one  volume,  under  Class  IV. 

*H.R.H.  THE  Duke  of  York,  K.G. — A  complete  collection  of  the  stamps  of 
the  De  La  Rue  series,  represented  by  imperforate  copies  from  each  plate  registered 
on  being  put  to  press,  and  including  the  new  6  a.  stamp  prepared  many  years  ago,  but 
not  yet  issued. 

Natal. 

*  Avery,  W.  B. — A  representative  exhibit  of  the  first  issues  only,  unused  and 
used. 

New  Brunswick,  Newfoundland,  and  Nova  Scotia. 

*  Avery,  W.  B.  New  Brunswick,  the  stamps  of  the  first  issue  only  and  the  5  c. 
"Connell"  and  12^  c.  There  are  numerous  specimens  of  the  first  issue  unused  and 
used,  including  nine  of  the  is.,  two  of  these  being  unused,  with  fine  margins,  and 
several  varieties  of  the  bisected  stamps.  The  "  Connell "  is  represented  by  three 
unused  copies,  and  there  is  a  complete  sheet  of  the  i2|c.,  blue.  Only  the  pence 
issues  of  Newfoundland  are  exhibited ;  amongst  these  will  be  found  two  2d.  and 
two  6d.  of  the  scarlet-vermilion  series,  unused,  as  well  as  three  4d.,  seven  6|d.,  and 
one  IS.,  all  unused.  There  are  also  numerous  postmarked  specimens  of  all  the 
values,  and  the  same  stamps  in  orange.  The  1862  issue,  with  the  exception  of  the 
2d.,  is  shown  in  complete  sheets.  As  in  the  other  two  cases,  only  the  pence  issues 
of  Nova  Scotia  are  shown.  All  the  values  are  unused  and  used,  and  include  ten 
specimens  of  the  is.,  five  of  them  being  unused,  in  brilliant  colour  and  condition. 

DuvEEN,  H.  J. — A  remarkably  fine  exhibit.  New  Brunswick,  unused :  6d., 
yellow,  seven;  and. is.,  four,  the  latter  all  different  shades,  and  the  5c.  (Connell), 
used;  is.,  five,  and  several  examples  of  bisected  stamps  on  original  covers.  New- 
foundland, unused,  a  complete  set  of  the  scarlet-vermilion,  including  two  each  of  the 
2d.  and  4d. ;  the  orange-vermilion  issue  (also  unused)  is  represented  by  two  each  of 
the  2d.,  4d.,  and  6d.,  and  specimens  of  the  6|d.  and  is.,  and  is.  on  laid  paper. 
Half  of  the  8d.,  cut  diagonally,  on  the  entire  original.  In  Nova  Scotia,  unused, 
the  6d.  in  the  two  scarce  shades,  two  of  each;  and  the  is.  in  two  shades,  five  in 
all ;  and  of  the  latter  stamp,  used,  seven  specimens.  The  "  spHt "  stamps  include 
halves  of  the  3d.  and  6d.,  and  also  of  the  2c.  and  loc,  all  on  original  covers  or 
portions  of  them. 

New  Zealand. 

Blest,  W.  W.— Another  exhibit  which  may  be  classed  amongst  the  pick  of  the 
Exhibition.  Amongst  the  unused  stamps  are  the  following :  First  issue,  printed  in 
London,  id.,  three;  2d.,  one;  and  is.,  three;  and  also  one  copy  of  the  2d.  and 
two  of  the  IS.  values  bleute.  The  series  on  blue  paper  includes  id.,  five;  2d.,  one 
pair,  and  strips  of  three  and  four;  and  is.,  two,  the  latter  being  exceptionally  fine 
and  rare.  A  splendid  range  of  the  is.  values  will  be  found  in  succeeding  issues  on 
thick  unwatermarked  paper,  and  also  on  the  paper  with  Star  watermark.  In  the  issue 
on  pelure  paper,  the  id.,  2d.,  and  is.  imperforate,  and  the  2d.,  6d.,  and  is.  perforated, 
more  than  one  of  each  value. 

In  the  used  stamps,  id.,  London  print,  six;  pairs  of  the  is.,  thick  paper,  in 
both  shades;  a  strip  of  five  of  the  id.  on  blue  paper;  and  a  copy  of  the  2d.  with 
value  omitted.  In  the  1872  issues  there  are  two  copies  of  the  id.,  brown,  with 
NZ  watermark. 


I90  THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION. 

Queensland. 

Blest,  W.  W. — Another  collection  of  the  highest  order,  practically  complete. 
The  first  issue,  imperforate,  unused,  includes  id.,  four ;  2d.,  one  and  strip  of  three  ;  and 
6d.,  three.  In  the  issue  of  1 860-1,  watermark  Star,  rough  perf.  :  the  2d.,  imperf. 
horizontally.  The  series  for  1868-74,  with  truncated  Star,  perf.  12,  is  largely  repre- 
sented, and  includes  an  unused  strip  of  three  of  the  6d.,  dark  green.  Amongst 
the  used  stamps  are  two  pairs  of  each  of  the  2d.  and  6d.,  imperforate,  and  several 
varieties  imperforate  vertically,  etc. 

H.  Grey,  a  general  collection  of  this  country ;  and  W.  Hadlovv,  fine  copies  of 
all  issues,  in  singles,  pairs,  and  blocks ;  the  later  issues  being  represented  by  blocks 
showing  the  various  types  and  plates. 

South  Australia. 

Smith,  Gordon. — An  exceedingly  choice  exhibit  of  a  very  difiicult  country,  nearly 
everything  being  unused,  and  approaching  completeness — high  praise  in  such  a 
category.  First  issue,  London  print,  id.,  a  pair  and  two;  6d.,  pair  and  four;  is., 
violet,  one  ;  Colonial  print,  2d.,  two,  and  used,  id.,  two  pairs ;  6d.,  a  pair,  unused,  and 
five,  used,  pairs;  is.,  two  pairs.  Of  the  rouletted  issues,  blocks  of  id.,  2d.,  and  6d., 
and  two  of  the  latter  value  in  Prussian  blue,  and  a  strip  of  three  of  the  4d.  and  the 
lod.,  with  blue  surcharge,  the  six  types  in  both  colours;  the  is.,  yellow,  two,  with 
perfect  gum.  Perforated  by  roulette,  4d.,  pair,  used ;  6d.,  three  pairs  and  four  singles  ; 
lod.,  three;  and  is.,  four.  Early  perforated,  1867-1870,  id.,  pale  green,  one;  2d., 
two,  used;  6d.,  sky-blue,  two;  is.,  chestnut,  two.  The  2d.,  second  type,  with  water- 
mark Crown  and  SA,  includes  the  following:  Perf.  10  by  roul.,  pair  and  two  singles; 
perf.  112  by  roul.,  one,  used,  surcharged  P;  perf.  11^,  strip  of  six;  and  with  Star 
watermark,  perf.  \\\  by  roulette,  two,  used.  The  lod.,  with  black  surcharge, 
rouletted,  one;  perf.  11^,  three;  perf.  \\\  by  12,  one;  and  the  gd.,  perforated  11^ 
and  rouletted,  one  unused.  Among  the  O.S.  surcharged,  the  4d.,  perf  10,  two,  used  ; 
and  many  unused  of  all  issues,  including  8d.  and  gd.,  with  varieties  and  errors. 

Harrison,  W. — The  stamps  for  Departmental  use,  unused,  among  which  may  be 
noticed  the  following:  C.D.,  in  red,  on  the  4d. ;  D.B.,  in  black,  on  the  id.  perf.  i2|- 
— this  stamp  is  only  known  surcharged;  C.T.,  on  the  is.  ;  G.S.,  on  the  three  values; 
N.T.,  in  black,  on  several  values,  including  the  3d.  on  4d.,  in  black;  P.S.,  in  black,  on 
3d.  on  4d.,  in  red ;  S.M.,  in  blue,  on  the  2d.,  Type  i  ;  T.,  in  red,  on  the  4d.,  perf.  by 
roul,  V.A.,  on  the  2d.,  Type  2  ;  and  many  other  rarities.  Mr.  Harrison's  stamps  are 
well  known  as  being  the  finest  collection  of  unused  Departmentals  extant. 

Trinidad. 

Chambers,  A.  W. — Of  the  lithographed  series,  four  copies  of  the  blue,  and  one 
of  the  red,  used.  The  stamps  printed  by  Messrs.  Perkins,  Bacon  &  Co.,  in  most 
of  the  varieties,  and  in  the  later  printings  of  the  same  type  by  Messrs.  De  La  Rue,  all 
perforations  being  represented.  The  later  varieties  in  perforations,  watermark,  and 
surcharge. 

Ransom,  F. — The  issues  of  185 1  to  1859,  imperforate,  used  and  unused,  of  the 
lithographed  stamps;  a  grand  block  of  fifty-four  of  the  id.,  red;  used  copies  of  the 
same  value ;  four  pairs  and  twenty  single  specimens  of  the  id.,  blue,  and  grey-blue, 
exhibiting  the  different  impressions  and  states  of  the  plate.  The  subsequent  issues 
in  many  shades  and  varieties  of  perforation,  principally  used,  and  two  copies  of  the 
"  Lady  McLeod  "  local. 

Western  Australia. 

*AvERY,  W.  B. — Issue  i,  a  used  specimen  of  the  4d.,  with  centre  inverted,  of 
the  highest  degree  of  rarity.  Among  the  2d.,  eight  unused,  and  of  the  6d.,  three; 
used  pairs  of  all  values,  and  a  used  block  of  the  is.  The  various  roulettes 
in  all  values  of  the  first  and  also  the  succeeding  issue.  6d.,  bkute  (seven  unused) ; 
2d.,  error,  in  lilac  (eleven),  unused,  and  all  later  issues.  The  copies  throughout  are 
very  numerous  (in  some  cases  almost  redundant)  and  very  choice ;  this  is,  doubtless, 
one  of  Mr.  Avery's  most  complete  e.xhibits,  and  is  prominent  even  among  his  many 
treasures. 


SILVER  MEDAL 

SILVER 

)) 

BRONZE 

)j 

BRONZE 

)> 

BRONZE 

)) 

the  london  philatelic  exhibition.  191 

Section  C. 

.  W.  T.  WiLLET  (Nevis). 

.  Baron  A.  de  Reuterskiold  (Turks  Islands). 

.  Leslie  L.  R.  Hausburg  (Grenada). 

.  Dr.  R.  Stanley  Taylor  (Grenada). 

.  Vernon  Roberts  (St.  Lucia). 

Barbados. 

Chambers,  A.  W. — A  desirable  show  of  all  issues,  unused  and  used ;  amongst 
the  unused  may  be  noted  the  4d.,  compound  perf. ;  the  id.  on  half  of  5s.  unused 
(with  comma)  and  used. 

Cape  of  Good  Hope. 

*  Avery,  \V.  B. — A  very  rich  show  of  the  triangular  stamps  only.  Of  the  first 
issues  there  are  numerous  unused  blocks  of  the  id.,  4d.,  and  6d.,  and  an  unused 
pair  of  the  is.,  dark  green.  The  provisional  stamps  are  strongly  represented  in 
pairs  and  blocks,  and  the  unused  specimens  include  one  of  the  4d.  in  the  dark  blue 
colour.  The  variety  of  the  4d.  with  straight  lines  in  the  right  corner  represented 
in  a  pair,  and  the  id.  error,  blue,  se  tenant  with  a  4d.,  as  well  as  a  single  specimen, 
and  there  are  two  used  copies  of  the  4d.  error,  red. 

Fiji. 

*  Avery,  W.  B. — "Fiji  Times  Express"  on  both  papers,  and  many  varieties  of 
the  V.R.,  surcharged  in  Roman  and  Gothic  types,  with  later  issues. 

Grenada  and  Jamaica. 

Hausburg,  Leslie  L.  R. — First  issue,  unused,  id.,  block  of  four;  6d.,  six. 
Small  Star  watermark,  the  three  colours  of  the  6d.  in  various  shades ;  Large  Star,  6d., 
seven;  the  errors  of  the  is.  and  id.,  with  watermark  Broad-pointed  Star,  several  of 
each  value,  including  the  2|d.,  claret,  and  a  block  of  six  4d.,  unused.  In  the  pro- 
visional issue  the  4d.  with  upright  "  d  "  in  a  strip  of  three,  unused ;  id.  on  2s.  without 
"  Postage  and,"  used,  and  unused  sheets  of  some  of  the  other  surcharged  values. 

Jamaica,  blocks,  pairs,  and  single  copies,  unused,  of  the  first  stamps  watermarked 
"  Pineapple,"  including  the  is.,  yellow-brown,  two;  and  all  the  other  issues  are  repre- 
sented by  singles,  pairs,  and  blocks  of  four ;  an  excellent  show. 

Taylor,  Dr.  R.  Stanley. — Grenada,  the  earlier  issues  of  the  id.  and  6d.  in 
blocks  of  four.  With  the  watermark  Broad-pointed  Star,  the  2|d.,  plum,  one ;  claret, 
one;  4d.,  block  of  four;  and  a  single,  are  all  unused.  In  the  fiscal  stamps  surcharged 
for  postage  the  4d.  on  2s.,  with  upright  and  italic  d,  a  pair  unused ;  amongst  the  used 
specimens  of  the  "Postage"  in  manuscript,  two  in  black  and  one  in  red.  Most  of 
the  varieties  of  surcharge  on  all  values  are  included.  Jamaica,  unused  pairs  of  the 
Pineapple  series,  and  many  shades  of  subsequent  issues,  unused  and  used.  Several 
specimens  of  the  bisected  id.  on  original,  and  also  fiscal  is.  in  similar  condition. 

Both  of  the  preceding  exhibits  are  marvellously  complete  and  representative  of 
modern  Philatelic  high  watermark ! 

Nevis. 

De  Reuterskiold,  A. — A  superb  exhibit  of  these  popular  stamps,  even  the  rarest 
stamps  being  daringly  plated!  Issue  i  contains  reconstructed  plates  of  the  id.,  4d., 
6d.,  and  is.,  used  and  unused.  The  1867  issue  engraved  has  the  id.,  4d.,  and  is., 
used  and  unused,  and  the  is.  in  yellow-green,  complete,  used,  and  ten  varieties  of  the 
types  unused.  The  lithographed  issue  of  1874  includes  the  id.,  4d.,  6d.,  and  is. 
complete,  unused;  the  id.  and  4d.  complete,  used;  nine  varieties  of  the  6d.  ;  ten 
of  the  IS.,  light  green;  and  seven  of  the  is.,  dark  green.  The  id.,  perf.  \i\,  used 
and  unused,  and  the  same  stamp  imperforate  in  eight  varieties  of  type,  besides  two 
copies  used.  The  later  issues  include  all  the  varieties,  and  many  bisected  specimens ; 
but  the  IS.  on  laid  paper  is  lacking. 


192  THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION. 

WiLLETT,  W.  T. — A  brilliant  and  select  collection  of  this  country,  all  stamps 
represented  being  in  the  very  finest  condition.  First  issue  bleiite,  two  copies  of  the 
IS.,  and  also  reconstructed  plates  and  shades  of  each  value,  unused.  Second  issue 
(perf.  15),  entire  sheets  of  the  4d.  and  is.  (many  shades  of  each  value),  with  eight 
of  the  IS.,  yellow-green,  all  unused,  and  a  specimen  of  the  is.  on  laid  paper,  used. 
The  lithographed  issue  (perf.  15)  includes  an  entire  sheet  of  the  id.  (showing 
Type  I  retouched),  an  entire  sheet  of  the  4d.,  a  reconstructed  sheet  of  the  6d.,  and 
entire  sheets  of  the  is.  in  light  and  dark  shades,  all  unused. 

St.  Vincent  and  St.  Lucia. 

Pimm,  W. — St.  Vincent,  the  first  issue,  without  watermark,  used  and  unused ;  and 
numerous  copies  of  the  different  perforations,  including  seven  of  the  4d.,  blue.  The 
issues  of  1871-77  (watermark  Star)  include  most  varieties,  used  and  unused.  The 
provisional  stamps,  id.  on  6d.,  dark  green  (pair);  |d.  on  6d.,  yellow-green;  and  "one 
PENNY  "  on  6d.,  are  also  shown ;  and  a  number  of  copies  of  all  subsequent  issues. 
St.  Lucia,  general  issues,  used,  with  some  unused. 

Roberts,  Vernon. — A  very  fine  collection  of  the  stamps  of  St.  Lucia,  including 
blocks  of  the  first  issue,  unused ;  a  good  range  of  shades,  unused  and  used,  of  all 
issues  ;  with  twelve  specimens  of  the  is.  of  1883  and  six  specimens  of  the  4d.,  perf.  12. 
The  two  varieties  of  die  found  amongst  the  stamps  of  Messrs.  De  La  Rue  &:  Co.'s 
design  are  fully  represented  with  six  of  the  is. ;  also  fiscal  stamps  used  for  postage. 
We  are  delighted  to  see  Mr.  V!  Roberts'  return  to  the  fold,  and  congratulate  him  on 
his  success. 

Straits  Settlements  and  Dependencies. 

Beckton,  W.  Dorning. — In  addition  to  the  first  issue,  a  collection  showing  un- 
tiring effort  in  accumulating  the  many  errors  and  varieties  of  surcharge.  Complete 
panes  of  the  more  ordinary  surcharges  are  shown.  Among  the  rarities  may  be  noted 
the  errors  "Unjog,"  "Ferak,"  and  "Preak."  Very  complete,  scientific,  and  a 
model  of  neatness  in  its  arrangement. 

Turks  Islands. 
De  Reuterskiold,  A. — A  specimen  of  the  is.  value  in  prune,  and  shades  of  the 
unsurcharged  series.  The  different  settings  and  types  of  the  surcharges  of  the  |d., 
2^d.,  and  4d.  values,  including  copies  of  the  2^d.  on  the  6d.,  black,  with  small  fraction, 
and  also  with  the  large  square-based  "  2  "  in  the  three  types ;  ten  varieties  of  the  2|d. 
on  the  IS.,  blue;  a  block  of  thirteen  2|d.  on  the  id.,  red,  and  fifteen  of  the  2jd.  on 
the  IS  ,  prune  ;  a  block  of  six  of  the  4d.  on  6d.,  black,  and  the  -Jd.  on  the  higher  values 
in  blocks  of  six  and  fifteen.  In  the  issue  of  1893  twenty  varieties  of  |d.  on  4d.,  grey, 
in  strips,  showing  the  different  settings,  as  also  six  specimens  used  on  letters  ;  altogether 
a  collection  of  this  country  which  it  would  be  difficult  to  duplicate. 

Section   D. 

SILVER  MEDAL     .         .     Baron  A.  De  Worms  (Gambia,  Gold  Coast,  etc.). 
BRONZE      „  .         .     J.  N.  Marsden  (Gibraltar,  Gold  Coast,  etc.). 

BRONZE      „  .         .     Eliot  Levy  (British  South  Africa,  etc.). 

Van  Kinschot,  C.  P.  L. — British  Bechuanaland,  Gold  Coast,  Lagos,  Leeward 
Islands,  Virgin  Islands,  and  Zululand. 

Le  Cronier,  H. — An  entire  sheet,  unused,  of  the  half-penny  on  Three  Pence; 
British  Bechuanaland  stamp,  showing  the  whole  arrangement  of  the  setting  of  the 
surcharge. 

Jordan,  T.  G. — Falkland  Islands,  Gibraltar,  Leeward  Islands,  Montserrat,  Oil 
Rivers  and  Niger  Coast,  St.  Helena  and  Seychelles. 

De  Worms,  Baron  A. — Gambia,  Gold  Coast,  Lagos,  St.  Helena,  Sierra  Leone, 
most  of  the  various  issues  being  represented  by  three  or  four  shades  of  each  variety, 
unused.  St.  Helena,  blocks  of  six  of  the  6d.,  id.,  and  4d.,  imperf,  as  well  as  a 
similar  block  of  id.,  showing  different  lengths  of  the  surcharge;  a  fine  lot. 

Marsden,  J.  N. — Gibraltar,  Gold  Coast,  Lagos,  Sierra  Leone,  Tobago,  and  British 
Consular  Mail,  Madagascar,  including  Gold  Coast  20s.,  both  varieties,  unused;  Lagos, 


THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION.  193 

first  issue,  2s.  6d.,  5s.,  and  los.,  unused;  Tobago,  first  issue,  Crown  CC,  5s.,  used, 
and  ;Q\,  unused;  and  two  specimens  of  the  id.  provisional  on  half  of  6d.  British 
Consular  Mail  labels  of  Madagascar,  mostly  used. 

Adamson,  Mrs.  H.  S. — Antigua,  St.  Christopher,  and  Leeward  Islands  used 
copies,  except  in  the  Leeward  Island  series,  which  include  unused  copies. 

Bramah,  J. — British  South  Africa,  mostly  in  entire  sheets  illustrating  the  varieties 
of  paper,  including  two  of  the  2d.  and  one  of  the  4d.,  perf.  12  J,  on  thick  wove,  as 
well  as  two  of  the  id.  on  thick  unwatermarked  paper. 

British  South  Africa,  British  Central  Africa,  and  British  East  Africa. 

Levy,  Eliot. — British  South  Africa,  first  issue,  all  values,  unused,  up  to  ;^io,  and 
the  ;^5,  postally  used;  the  provisionals  of  1896,  unused  and  used;  British  Central 
Africa,  first  issue,  all  values,  unused  and  used  up  to  jQ2,  and  the  later  issues,  com- 
plete ;  British  East  Africa,  complete,  including  imperforate  pairs,  unused  and  used. 
The  1891  and  1895  provisionals,  with  surcharge  in  manuscript,  and  also  with  hand- 
stamp,  include  the  i  a.  on  4  a.,  unused  and  used  ;  the  |  a.  on  2  a.,  in  both  varieties,  used. 
All  the  1896  provisionals,  unused,  in  pairs,  including  the  2\  on  i  a.  6  pies,  and  the 
1897  surcharges  on  the  Zanzibar  stamps. 

Special    Awards. 

For  Collections  of  used  British  Colonial  Stamps.    Presented  by  the 
City  of  London  Philatelic  Club. 
GOLD  MEDAL  .  .  .     Baron  A.  de  Worms. 

SILVER     „  .  .  .-     Baron  A.  de  Reuterskiold. 

BRONZE  „  .  .  .     W.  W.  Blest. 

For  Collections  of  "  Sydney  Views,"  New  South  "Wales.    Presented 

by  Messrs.  G.  Calif  &  Co. 

SILVER  MEDAL      .  .  .Dr.  F.  Bowers. 

For  the  most  complete  Collection  of  Queensland. 
Presented  by  W.  Hadlow,  Esq. 

SILVER  MEDAL        .  .  .     W.  W.  Blest. 

For  Departmental  Stamps  of  South  Australia.    Presented  by 

Gordon  Smith,  Esq. 

SILVER  MEDAL       .  .  .     W.  Harrison. 

For  Collection  of  Straits  Settlements  (including  Native  States). 
Presented  by  W.  Brown,  Esq.,  and.  S.  C.  Skipton,  Esq. 

SILVER  MEDAL       .  .  .     W.  Dorning  Beckton. 

EUROPE. 
Division  II.    Section  A. 


GOLD   MEDAL 

SILVER 

SILVER 

SILVER 

BRONZE 

BRONZE 

BRONZE 


R.  Ehrenbach  (Austria). 

Adolf  Rosenberg  (Heligoland). 

Geo.  F.  Jackson  (Spain). 

R.  Dreyfus  (Switzerland). 

Julius  Lossau  (Hamburg). 

Ernest  Petri  (Parma,  Tuscany,  etc.). 

Dr.  Yersin  (Switzerland). 


Austria,  Austrian  Italy,  Hungary,  and  Bosnia. 

Ehrenbach,  R. — A  very  complete  and  rich  assemblage  of  all  the  many  shades 
and  varieties  comprised  in  the  issues  of  the  Dual  Empire,  which  well  deserved  the 
recognition  it  has  received  at  the  hands  of  the  judges.  Austria  (Issue  of  1850) :  Full 
sets  and  ranges  of  shades  on  thick  and  thin  paper,  including  the  i  kr.  printed  on 

67« 


194  THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION. 

both  sides,  and  the  two  types  of  the  9  kr.  1858  :  Full  sets,  including  five  copies  of  the 
2  kr.,  orange  ;  a  set  of  the  Mercuries ;  complete  sets  of  the  small  perforated  stamps 
of  the  1867  and  1883  issues.  1886:  Levant,  Three  Para,  local  surcharge,  three. 
Lombardy,  1850  :  Sets  of  this  issue  on  thick  and  thin  paper,  including  the  5  centes. 
printed  on  both  sides,  and  both  types  of  the  45  centes.  1863  :  Five  copies  of  the 
10  soldi,  perf  15.     Hungary,  ranges  of  shades  of  lithographed  issue. 

Germany. 

Van  Kinschot,  C.  P.  L. — Bavaria,  German  Confederation  and  Empire,  and 
Hanover. 

LossAU,  Julius. — Hamburg  only,  but  exceedingly  choice  and  complete,  both 
unused  and  used,  the  latter  including  all  known  varieties  and  combinations  of 
postmarks,  and  numerous  blocks  and  pairs  in  both  states ;  there  is  also  a  pair  of 
imperforate  4  sch.  on  original. 

Hunt,  G.  H. — Baden,  Bavaria,  Brunswick,  German  Confederation,  Hamburg, 
Hanover,  Mecklenburg-Schwerin  and  Strelitz,  Oldenburg,  Saxony,  Schleswig-Holstein, 
Thurn  and  Taxis,  and  Wurtemberg. 

Rosenberg,  Adolf. — An  extensive  and  choice  collection  of  Heligoland  only. 
All  issues  are  represented  used  and  unused,  the  former  showing  the  various  local 
obhterations  such  as  Hamburg,  Geestemunde,  Cuxhaven,  etc.,  and  the  latter  including 
blocks  and  sheets  which,  with  single  specimens,  include  the  several  printings  of  the 
various  issues.  Prominent  among  the  unused  may  be  mentioned  blocks  of  four 
of  the  first  issue,  rouletted,  of  the  \  and  i  sch. ;  and  among  the  used  the  same  values 
with  the  6  sch.  (in  the  rouletted  issue) ;  of  the  perforated  set,  the  \,  light  green  and 
carmine-red;  the  ^,  red,  and  the  same  with  colours  reversed  ;  and  the  i|  sch. 

The  five  mark,  perforated  11  to  \\\,  and  obliterated  with  postmark  of  July  22nd, 
1880.  Specimens  of  the  Hamburg  stamps,  2  sch.,  red,  and  3  sch.,  blue,  are  also 
exhibited  on  letters  having  duly  paid  the  postage  from  Heligoland  before  the  issue  of 
especial  stamps  for  the  island.  The  remainder  of  the  collection,  consisting  of  the 
various  Berlin,  Hamburg,  and  Leipzig  reprints,  forgeries,  and  false  postmarks,  etc.,  for 
purpose  of  comparison,  were  shown  in  a  volume.  This  collection  of  Heligoland  is 
undoubtedly  finer  than  any  ever  seen  in  this  country. 

*Castle,  M.P. — Hanover:  Four  copies  of  the  i  s.g ,  blue,  of  1851;  three  of 
the  one-tenth  of  1856;  and  the  deep  shades  of  the  Head  issue  of  1859-63.  Blocks 
and  .strips  in  nearly  all  the  issues.  All  the  stamps  are  unused.  Thurn  and  Taxis  : 
First  issue  on  coloured  paper,  shades  of  all  values,  and  pairs  and  blocks  of  most, 
inclusive  of  a  block  of  six  of  the  3  kr.,  grey-blue  ;  a  pair  of  the  dark  blue ;  a  pair  of 
the  I  s.g. ;  and  a  block  of  four  of  the  6  kr. ;  the  subsecjuent  issues  in  like  manner 
including  a  pair  of  9  kr.,  yellow  on  v/hite  ;  specimens  of  the  1862  series  on  toned 
paper,  and  a  block  of  the  3  kr.,  rose,  roul.,  both  in  plain  and  coloured  lines,  all  being 
unused.  Wurtemberg  :  Issue  i,  the  9  kr.  (three),  6  kr.  (seven),  3  kr.,  orange  (two),  all 
arranged  according  to  the  three  upper  inscriptions,  differing  in  length  The  second 
issue,  with  silk  threads,  include  the  i  and  6  in  the  pale  shades.  The  third  issue, 
without  threads,  on  thick  paper  (imperf ),  includes  the  6  kr.  in  pale  and  in  yellow- 
green,  and  later  (perforated  13^-)  comprises  shades  of  all  four  values,  twenty-two  in  all. 
The  I  kr.  and  6  kr.  are  exhibited  on  medium  thick  paper,  followed  by  the  issue  on 
thin  paper,  which  includes  blocks.  All  subsequent  issues  in  shades,  inclusive  of  the 
two  official  series  and  the  reprints  of  1864.  All  the  stamps  are  unused,  and  the 
exhibit  may  be  considered,  as  regards  difficulty  of  acquisition  and  of  Philatelic 
study,  to  be  fully  representative  of  Mr.  Castle's  well-known  European  collection. 

Italy. 

Petri,  Ernest. — Parma,  Sicily,  and  Tuscany :  Specimens  of  almost  all  the  stamps 
of  Parma,  used,  and  also  on  original  covers,  including  the  provisional  issue.  Tuscany, 
the  following  are  to  be  noticed :  60  c.  (one),  and  2  soldi  (two  pairs),  i  soldi  (many 
shades)  and  the  other  values  in  shades ;  all  used.  Sicily  both  unused  and  used  in 
singles  and  blocks. 


THE  LONDOM  PHILATELIC  EXHHUTION.  195 

Naples,  Parma,  and  Tuscany. 

*Castle,  M.  p. — Naples  :  The  issue  of  1858  in  shades,  pairs,  and  blocks,  unused. 
The  provisional  \  T.  of  November,  1861,  two  unused  and  seven  used  specimens, 
including  a  pair  on  Journal  of  November  i6th,  i860.  The  issue  of  the  following 
month,  with  the  Savoy  Cross,  includes  nine  unused  and  forty-one  used  specimens, 
showing  the  variations  of  the  types  and  the  occasionally  defective  erasure  of  the 
Arms.  Tuscany  :  The  issues  of  1851  on  paper,  varying  from  blue  to  almost  white,  in 
shades,  pairs,  etc.,  unused,  including  three  copies  of  the  2  soldi  and  two  of  the  60 
crazie.  The  issue  of  1853  includes  four  copies  of  the  9  crazie  and  several  blocks 
of  other  values.  The  provisional  issue  of  i860  contains  blocks  and  strips,  including 
I  c.  (26,  and  a  block  of  8),  5  c.  (14,  and  a  block  of  4),  10  c.  (20,  and  a  block  of  9), 
20  c,  (24,  and  a  pair),  40  c.  (12),  80  c.  (6),  and  the  3  lire,  unused  (one)  and  used  (two), 
all  in  specially-selected  shades.  Parma :  First  issue,  unused,  including  two  entire 
sheets,  and  showing  the  various  stages  of  printing.  The  provisional  issue  of  1854 
is  displayed  used  and  unused,  there  being  thirty-eight  of  the  latter,  all  of  which  are 
rare  stamps,  notably  the  25c.,  brown ;  marked  variations  in  thin  and  thick  impressions 
will  be  seen  amongst  the  used. 

Chapman,  J.  H. — Roumania  and  Moldo  Wallachia  :  Later  issues,  in  which  the 
various  shades  and  varieties  of  perforation  are  extensively  shown. 

*AvERY,  W.  B. — Of  the  first  Moldavians,  8r  p.  (two)  and  108  p.  (three),  unused; 
27  p.,  three  specimens  and  a  pair  ;  54  p.  (six),  81  (two),  and  108  (five),  used,  including 
varieties  of  obliteration  and  copies  on  the  original  letter,  all  in  superb  condition,  only 
one  specimen  appearing  cut  round.  All  these  are  known  to  be  valuable,  but  the 
unused  are  really  rare  in  addition. 

Russia,  Finland,  Russian  Levant,  and  Poland. 

*  Castle,  M.  P. — Want  of  space  forbids  a  fuller  description  of  these  countries,  the 
collection  of  the  exhibitor  being  practically  complete  in  unused  condition. 

Spain. 

Jackson,  Geo.  F. — An  excellent  general  collection  of  Spain,  almost  all  values 
being  present  unused  and  used.  To  be  noted  are  1850,  10  r.,  green,  strip  of  three, 
used  ;  1850,  2  r.,  red,  unused,  and  pair  used  ;  185 1,  2  r.,  red,  unused,  and  a  pair  used  ; 
1853,  2  r.,  red,  unused;  1853,  3  cuartos,  bronze,  unused  and  used  ;  1855,  error,  2  r., 
blue,  attached  to  the  i  r.  ;  1865,  twelve,  blue  and  rose,  used,  imperforate  and  per- 
forated ;  the  several  nineteen  cuartos  and  all  later  issues,  including  "  Don  Carlos  "  and 
ofificial  stamps. 

Switzerland. 

Yersin,  Dr. — Used  stamps  only,  specimens  of  the  following  Cantonal  issues : 
Geneva,  10  cent  in  three  varieties;  Vaud,  4  and  5  cents;  Neuchatel,  5  cents;  Zurich, 
4  and  6  rappen ;  AVinterthur  and  Basle,  stamps  of  the  Federal  Administration  of 
1850,  reconstructed.  Plates  of  the  forty  varieties  of  the  z\  rappen,  Orts  Poste  and 
Poste  Locale,  and  of  the  higher  values ;  a  specimen  of  the  latter  with  framed  cross ; 
and  a  representative  selection  of  all  subsequent  issues 

*Avery,  W.  B. — Cantonal  stamps  of  Geneva  with  the  first  Federal  issue  only. 
Amongst  the  10  c,  Geneva,  an  unused  block  of  six  and  three  halves — much  admired, 
and  we  might  also  say  envied,  by  the  Philatelic  visitors — with  part  of  top  marginal 
inscription ;  also  nine  used  pairs,  two  being  on  envelopes  and  three  used  half 
stamps.  Of  the  5  c.,  large  Eagle  of  1847,  an  unused  block  of  twenty  stamps, 
which  form  the  two  top  rows  of  the  sheet,  with  the  full  top  marginal  inscription  ; 
a  used  pair  on  the  letter  of  the  4  c.,  Local  Post  of  1849  (Vaud).  The  first  Federal 
issue  in  numerous  reconstructed  sheets,  there  being  two  of  the  2\  rappen  Orts  Poste, 
one  without  frame  to  the  cross,  beautifully  reconstructed. 

*Castle,  M.  P. — The  Cantonal  issues  only — unused.  Included  are  two  of  the  4  r. 
and  four  of  the  6  r.,  Zurich,  with  vertical  lines  :  and  with  horizontal  lines,  four  of 
the  former  and  nineteen  of  the  latter,  inclusive  of  two  strips  of  the  five  types 
unsevered,  one  of  which  shows  the  retouched  variety ;  VVinterthur,  five  copies 
of  the    2^  r. ;   Geneva,    10  c,  three   shades,    and   one    specimen    wrongly    divided; 


196  THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION. 

5c.,  blocks  of  all  varieties;  4c.,  Vaud,  two;  5c.,  Vaud,  fourteen  specimens; 
5  c,  Neuchatel,  six ;  Basle,  seven  shades,  and  unissued  variety  with  scarlet  back- 
ground. The  15  r.  with  small  figure  and  the  15  c,  red,  both  unused,  the  latter  being 
of  extreme  rarity.     A  small  exhibit  in  one  case,  but  not  the  worst  in  the  Exhibition. 

Dreyfus,  R. — Geneva,  10  c,  three  copies  on  originals,  one  cut  wrong  way,  and 
two  halves ;  the  cut  envelopes,  two  specimens.  Vaud,  4  c,  four  copies,  two  being 
postmarked  on  same  letter.  Winterthur,  in  pairs.  Zurich,  4  r.,  the  five  types 
horizontal  and  vertical  lines,  mostly  on  letters ;  the  6  r.  in  types  also.  Basle,  several 
examples,  including  a  pair  on  letter.  Plates  of  the  Orts  Poste,  with  and  without 
border,  and  the  Poste  Locale  with  border;  a  constructed  plate  of  the  5  r.,  blue  on 
white,  unused.  Plates  of  all  the  other  varieties,  as  also  a  strip  of  three  of  the  10  r., 
with  cross  framed  on  the  original  letter,  with  many  varieties  of  obliteration,  both  of 
this  and  the  succeeding  issues,  including  among  the  issue  with  silk  thread  a  number 
of  bisected  stamps.  Among  the  Unpaid  Letter  stamps,  complete  sets  of  the  blue  and 
blue-green  on  granite  paper.  An  interesting  collection,  including  many  specimens  on 
entire  letters. 

Belgium. 

Ehrenbach,  R.— One  of  Mr.  Ehrenbach's  favourite  countries,  very  complete, 
with  scarcely  anything  wanting,  excepting  one  or  two  shades  in  the  second  issue. 
■First  issue,  including  pairs  and  lalocks,  in  shades ;  also  the  20  c.  in  the  very  pale  blue 
shade;  issue  of  1850  (LL  in  frame),  on  thick  and  thin  paper;  and  1851  (LL  no 
frame),  full  ranges  on  various  papers. 

France  and.  Monaco. 

Hunt,  G.  H. — French  Republic  and  Empire,  principally  in  used  condition. 

De  Pfeil,  Miss  Feyl. — France:  About  650  specimens,  used  and  unused. 
Among  the  latter  will  be  found  1849,  15c.,  green,  and  i  franc,  vermilion;  1853, 
I  franc,  carmine;  and  1876,   10  and  15c.  (error),  se  teria?if. 

Van  Hoek,  Anton. — France:  Blocks  of  the  1849  issue  of  all  values,  the 
stamps  of  the  Presidency  and  Empire  imperforate ;  of  all  subsequent  issues, 
including  the  French  Levant  and   Unpaid  Letter  stamps,  etc.    etc.,  chiefly  unused. 

*  Castle,  M.  P. — This  exhibit,  being  the  only  comprehensive  one  of  France, 
attracted  considerable  attention,  and  consisting  entirely  of  unused,  found  many 
admirers.  The  1849  Republic,  shades  and  pairs,  or  blocks  of  all  values;  nine 
specimens  of  the  i  fr.,  vermilion,  three  used,  and  a  strip  and  block  of  six  of  the  15c.; 
as  also  the  tcie-heche  of  the  10,  20,  25  c,  and  the  i  fr.,  and  a  series  of  reprints.  The 
issues  of  1852  Presidency  and  1853  Empire  are  similarly  represented,  inclusive  of 
shades,  in  the  latter;  of  the  10  c,  yellow,  20  c,  sky-blue;  and  blue  on  blue  paper 
tcte-lK'che,  etc.  The  subsequent  issues  include  shades  of  all,  and  blocks  of  most 
values. 

Section  B. 

GOLD  MEDAL  .  .  .  W.  Dorning  Beckton  (Greece). 

SILVER     „         .  .  .  Hubert  Buckley  (Norway). 

SILVER      „          .  .  .  R.  Ehrenbach  (Sweden). 

BRONZE    „          .  .  .  A.  H.  Harrison  (Norway,  etc.). 

BRONZE    „         .  .  .  J.  N.  Marsden  (Portugal), 

Greece. 
Beckton,  W.  Dorning. — A  remarkable  collection  of  this  country  which  has  secured 
the  gold  medal  of  the  section,  an  example  of  diligent  and  successful  research  into  a 
difficult,  though  interesting  country.  The  Paris  Prints  :  In  addition  to  a  large  number 
of  single  specimens  unused  and  used  of  each  value  there  are  blocks  of  seventeen  of 
the  I  lepta,  three  of  fifteen  and  one  of  twenty  of  the  2  1.,  nine  of  the  5  1.,  three  and 
pair  10  1.,  and  a  pair  of  10  1.  without  numerals,  pairs  of  the  20  1.,  and  a  strip  of  three  with 
marginal  inscription,  block  of  eight  of  40  1.,  block  of  twenty,  and  other  large  blocks  of 
80  1.  In  the  Athens  Prints  all  the  values  unused  in  the  different  printings,  including 
large  blocks  and  entire  sheets  of  the  i  1.,  (two),  2  1.,  40  1.,  and  80  1.  The  following  are 


THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION.  197 

also  noticeable :  i  1.,  first  Athens  (three) ;  Early  Athens  on  ribbed  paper  (block) ; 
10  I.  without  numerals  on  back,  and  10  1.  on  azure  paper,  unused;  20  1.  without 
numerals  on  back,  and  20  1.  on  greenish  paper,  on  blue  paper,  and  the  deep  Indigo 
on  thin  paper,  all  unused;  40  1.,  solferino,  unused;  green  on  greenish,  block  (31) 
unused ;  80  lepta  in  pale  rose  on  white  paper,  three  unused ;  30  1.,  Paris,  seven 
unused,  including  strip  of  three ;  60  1.,  Athens,  seven  unused.  All  the  subsequent 
issues  of  the  first  type  of  head  in  the  various  printings  unused  in  large  blocks,  and 
entire  sheets  of  the  5  1.  in  both  shades.  The  Unpaid  Letter  stamps  in  various 
perforations  and  errors,  practically  complete,  including  10  1.,  with  figures  on  the 
face,  40  1.,  double  figures,  and  with  40  and  20 ;  also  20  1.,  with  80  on  the  back. 

Holland  and  Luxemburg-. 

Van  Kinschot,  C.  P.  L. — The  stamps  of  these  two  countries  in  used  condition, 
including  shades  and  varieties  of  most  values. 

Luxemburg. 

Smith,  Gordon. — A  practically  complete  collection  of  the  stamps  of  this  country, 
both  general  issues  and  officials.  In  the  first  are  a  pair  and  six  singles  of  the  black 
and  eight  of  the  red,  the  latter  in  three  shades,  all  unused.  The  second  issue,  imperf , 
contains  pairs  of  all  values  (except  the  40  c),  including  a  strip  of  three  of  the  i  fr.  on 
37I  c,  the  centre  stamp  with  the  error  "  Pranc."  Later  issues  in  all  varieties  of 
perforation,  etc.,  are  fully  shown.  In  the  officials  both  types  of  the  "official," 
the  "S.P."  in  its  various  types,  including  the  slanting  type  on  the  5  fr.  and  many 
varieties  of  perforation  and  surcharge.  All  the  stamps  in  the  finest  possible 
condition. 

Norway,  Denmark,  and  Iceland. 

Deane,  Hermann  F.  W.- — The  Danish  stamps  include  the  2  r.b.s.,  blue,  and 
the  4  r.b.s.,  yellow-brown,  unused,  and  the  subsequent  issues  in  shades,  principally 
unused.  The  Iceland  stamps  embrace  the  several  shades  and  perforation,  used  and 
unused.  The  first  issue  of  Sweden,  seven  specimens,  unused  ;  the  seventeen,  grey, 
of  1886,  and  the  "Tretio"  error,  red,  both  unused.  The  remaining  issues,  both 
perforations,  in  many  shades  and  printings,  used  and  unused.  Norway  includes 
the  4  sk.  of  1854,  unused,  and  pairs,  blocks,  and  unused  specimens  of  the  1856, 
1863,  and  subsequent  issues,  as  also  several  entire  sheets. 

Buckley,  Hubert. — A  Norwegian  exhibit  of  a  high  order  of  merit.  Amongst 
the  unused  stamps  will  be  found  blocks  of  the  three  lower  values  of  each  of  the 
issues  of  1856  and  1863,  including  one  showing  the  four  dies  of  the  2  sk.  of 
1863;  whole  sheets  of  some  and  blocks  of  others  of  1867  issue;  a  whole  sheet 
of  the  first  printing  of  the  i  sk.,  dark  green,  of  1872  ;  and  an  imperforate  specimen 
of  the  7  sk.  of  the  same  issue ;  two  sheets  of  different  printings  of  the  5  ore ; 
and  a  block  of  twenty-five  of  the  25  ore  of  1877,  the  3,  5,  and  10  ore  of  1883, 
in  blocks,  showing  different  shades;  a  pair  of  the  10  ore  and  a  block  of  ten  of 
the  20  ore,  blue,  both  imperforate.  A  small  collection  of  Denmark,  chiefly  unused, 
and  a  collection  of  unused  stamps  of  Iceland  in  blocks  of  four. 

Harrison,  A.  H. — Norway :  The  first  issue  includes  pairs  used,  and  shows  the 
varieties  of  the  die;  and  the  second  and  third  issues  are  shown  unused  and  used,  with 
many  blocks,  the  respective  types  being  all  noted.  The  succeeding  issues  all  include 
many  shades,  both  used  and  unused,  and  in  most  instances  blocks  or  portions  of  sheets, 
the  shade  of  colour  in  the  later  issues  being  very  extended.  In  the  issue  of  1883-4 
the  12  ore,  green,  is  to  be  noted  by  a  pair  and  two  single  copies;  the  20  ore, 
brown,  in  a  block  of  six;  and  the  25,  unused,  on  a  portion  of  the  sheet. 
Unused  specimens  predominate,  most  values  being  in  pairs  or  block,  in  addition 
to  single,  and  occasionally  used  specimens. 

Denmark:  The  earlier  issues  are  principally  represented  by  postmarked  copies, 
but  include  the  4  r.  6  s,,  unused;  and  in  the  later  issues  blocks  of  unused  and  single 
specimens,  in  addition  to  the  used  shades. 

The  above  three  exhibits  all  show  the  vast  strides  which  have  been  made  of 
late  years  in  the  research  into  Scandinavian  countries. 


198  THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION. 

Portugal. 

Marsden,  J.  N. — A  fine  collection  of  used  and  unused  stamps  together, 
followed  by  an  unused  series  of  all  issues.  The  specimens  of  the  first  issue 
include  two  of  the  50  r.  and  three  of  the  100  r.,  all  unused,  and  blocks  of  six 
and  eight  copies  of  the  100  r.,  used.  The  5  r.,  of  1855,  with  "straight  hair," 
unused,  and  the  five  varieties  of  type  of  this  stamp  are  exhibited  used.  All  the 
subsequent  issues  complete,  unused  and  used.  Although  a  fine  exhibit,  it  was 
expected  there  would  be  a  more  extended  display  of  this  country. 

Sweden. 
Ehrenbach,  R. — A  remarkably  complete  exhibit  of  a  very  difficult  country, 
wanting  only  in  shades  of  the  first  issue,  which  are  universally  scarce.  Issue  i, 
on  thick  and  thin  paper,  3  skill.,  nine  copies;  4  skill.,  fourteen;  6  skill.,  eleven; 
8  skill.,  sixteen;  24  skill.,  eight;  1866,  seven  copies  of  the  17  ore,  grey,  shades; 
1872,  shades  of  the  6  ore,  grey;  two  copies  of  the  error  "Tretio";  one  copy  of 
the  I  rigsdaler,  perf  13;  1889,  ofiicial  stamp,  10  ore,  blue,  reversed  surcharge. 
Representative  collections  were  also  exhibited  by  H.  Buckley  and  J.  Matinheiki. 

Special  Awards. 
For  Exhibits  of  European  Stamps.    Presented  by  M.  P.  Castle,  Esq. 
GOLD   MEDAL         .  .  .      R.  Ehrenbach. 

SILVER       „  ...      W.  DoRNiNG  Beckton. 

For  Exhibits  by  Continental  Collectors.    Presented  by  R.  Ehrenbach,  Esq. 
SILVER   MEDAL     .  .  .      Adolf  Rosenberg. 

BRONZE       „  .  .  .      R.  Dreyfus. 

ASIA   AND   AFRICA. 

Division   III.    Section  A. 

T.  WicKHAM  Jones  (Japan). 

Capt.  F.  H.  Hancock  (Afghanistan). 

R.  Pearce  (Transvaal). 

Baron  A.  de  Reuterskiold  (Philippine  Islands). 

Major  R.  Day  (Afghanistan). 

Afghanistan. 

Hancock,  Capt.  F.  H. — Made-up  sheets  of  the  four  plates  of  1288,  including 
many  pairs  and  blocks;  nine  specimens  of  the  1289  issue,  of  which  seven  are  used; 
1293  "Tablet"  issue,  made-up  plate,  complete  with  the  exception  of  two  types  of  the 
I  shahi,  the  order  having  been  carefully  worked  out  by  Capt.  Hancock ;  1293  (second 
issue),  a  large  number  of  the  higher  values  in  various  colours ;  the  later  issues  are  also 
fully  represented. 

Day,  Major  J.— 1288,  reconstructed  sheets  of  the  four  plates,  wanting  only  two 
types  of  Plate  A,  and  two  of  the  shahi,  Plate  D  ;  the  four  types  of  1289  ;  reconstructed 
sheet,  in  purple,  of  1292;  twenty  copies  of  the  "Tablet"  issue  of  1293;  reconstructed 
sheets  of  1293  (second  issue),  and  sets  of  various  colours;  and  most  of  the  varieties 
of  the  1294  and  1295  issues. 

Chamberlain,  Col.  Neville. — A  few  rarities  consisting  of  unused  portions  of 
sheets  of  some  of  the  postage  stamps  of  Ameer  Sher  Ali  Khan. 

Lincoln,  William  S. — A  collection  of  complete  sheets,  blocks,  pairs,  etc.,  of  the 
issues  of  1288  (1871)  to  1295  (1878). 

Azores  and  Madeira. 
Marsden,  J.  N. — The  stamps  of  these  two  countries  are  mostly  used.  Among 
the  Azores  will  be  found  a  specimen  of  the  imperforate  5  r.,  first  issue,  and  all  the 
subsequent  issues  of  this  country  and  most  of  those  of  Madeira  are  complete.  A 
separate  exhibit  includes  the  other  Portuguese  Colonies,  all  evincing  a  due  Philatelic 
knowledge  and  research  in  these  countries. 


GOLD  MEDAL 
SILVER     „ 
SILVER     „ 
BRONZE   „ 
BRONZE   „ 


THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION.  199 

French  Colonies  and  Possessions. 
Hunt,  G.  H. — The  various  Colonial  issues  of  France,  partly  unused  and  partly 
used. 

Japan. 

Beckton,  W.  Dorning. — The  first  issue  includes  single  specimens  in  shades  and 
six  entire  sheets,  one  of  which  is  on  wove  paper.  Of  the  second  issue  there  are 
entire  sheets  of  the  ^,  2,  and  5  sen,  and  fifteen  entire  sheets  among  the  stamps  of 
the  following  issues  :  Specimens  of  nearly  every  syllabic  character  known  for  the 
issues  of  1874  and  1875,  as  well  as  the  numerous  varieties  of  perforation  found 
amongst  these  stamps  and  also  amongst  those  of  the  subsequent  and  current  issues. 

Jones,  T.  Wickham. — Another  example  of  deep  and  successful  research  into  a 
most  interesting  country.  The  exhibit  includes  an  entire  sheet  of  the  first  issue, 
500  mons  on  wove  paper,  and  nine  entire  sheets  of  the  various  values  on  laid  paper, 
with  a  block  of  twenty-five  of  the  500  mons  in  the  pale  yellow-green  shade.  The 
\  sen  of  the  second  issue,  on  wove  paper,  an  entire  sheet,  and  four  entire  sheets  of 
the  \  sen  and  2  sen  on  laid  paper.  Of  the  6  sen  of  January,  1874,  on  laid  paper, 
there  are  fifty-eight  specimens,  including  several  of  the  Plate  numbers  unused,  and 
a  used  block  of  nine  of  Plate  7,  and  a  used  strip  of  eight  of  Plate  9.  The  various 
Plate  numbers  of  the  other  issues  are  almost  complete  used,  and  most  of  them 
unused  as  well ;  included  in  these  is  an  unused  specimen  of  the  20  sen  on  laid  paper, 
Plate  3,  and  an  unused  copy  of  the  10  sen,  blue,  Plate  5,  The  later  issues  are 
represented  in  all  the  numerous  varieties  of  perforation. 

Philippine  Islands. 

De  Reuterskiold,  a. — An  exhibit  of  a  very  high  order  of  Philatelic  merit.  The 
first  issue  includes  partially  completed  and  fully  constructed  plates  of  the  four  values  of 
4  c.  types,  both  with  the  fine  and  coarse-lined  background,  comprising  many  blocks  and 
strips  of  both  unused  and  used,  the  total  number  of  specimens  being  273;  also  the 
types  of  the  lithographed  5  c.  of  1855.  A  block  of  thirty-two  of  the  5  c.  of  1859; 
the  1863  issue,  the  same  surcharged  "  Habilitado " ;  and  the  subsequent  issues,  in- 
clusive of  the  numerous  surcharges,  are  also  fully  represented. 

Portuguese  India. 
Marsden,  J.  N. — First  issue  on  thin  paper,  the  10,  20,  40,  and  200  reis,  used;  on 
the  thick  paper  two  of  the  10  reis,  and  one  each  of  the  20,  200,  and  300  reis,  also 
used.  The  900  n,  Type  i  of  1873,  is  shown  with  double  numerals  of  value;  and 
a  specimen  of  the  20  r.,  Type  i,  with  small  figures  of  1875.  The  numerous  varieties  of 
the  subsequent  surcharged  issues  are  fully  represented. 

Transvaal. 

Pearc'e,  R. — Issues  of  the  First  Republic,  the  period  of  British  Occupation,  and 
of  the  Second  Republic,  with  notes  and  details.  First  Republic,  tete-bcche  pairs  of 
the  6d.  and  is.  values  of  the  first  local  printing,  and  of  the  later  6d.,  with  dark 
brown  gum  ;  wide  roulettes  of  the  id.  value,  on  pelure,  on  thick,  soft,  and  on  hard- 
surfaced  paper,  as  well  as  other  rouletted  stamps.  The  period  of  British  Occupation 
includes  the  variety  with  "V.R."  and  "Transvaal,"  printed  wider  apart  in  all  four 
values.  Of  the  same  issue,  the  3d.,  with  double  surcharge,  black  and  red ;  and  the 
IS.,  black  surcharge,  with  fine  roulette,  unused,  and  also  used,  with  inverted  surcharge. 
There  is  also  a  pair  of  the  same  is.,  tete-beche,  unused,  rouletted  6|  on  one  side. 
Copies  of  the  6d.,  blue  on  rose,  with  overprint  omitted,  and  of  the  3d.,  lilac  on  buff, 
with  overprint  inverted.  The  error  "Transvral,"  id.,  red  on  blue,  unused;  the  6d., 
blue  on  blue,  with  the  surcharge  omitted,  with  fine  roulette.  Numerous  other  varieties 
of  the  roulettes  and  variations  of  printing  in  the  several  issues.  Among  the  entire 
sheets  is  one  of  the  id.,  on  hard-surfaced  paper,  and  one  of  the  3d.,  violet  on  green — 
the  latter  with  the  variety  small  t  to  Transvaal.  The  stamps  of  the  Second  Republic 
include  an  unused  pair  of  the  is.,  of  1883,  perf.  12,  one  being  tete-bcche^  and  an  unused 
block  of  four  of  the  same  value,  surcharged  "  Halve  Penny,"  one  stamp  tete-beche. 
The  2d.  provisional  of  1887,  on  the  type  of  1885,  and  the  id.  provisional  of  1893, 
with  double  surcharge. 

In  such  a  difficult  country  it  is  impossible  to  mention  more  of  the  varieties 
exhibited  in  the  collection,  which  is  of  great  beauty  and  variety,  and  richly  deserved 
the  medals  awarded. 


200  the  london  philatelic  exhibition. 

Section  B. 

SILVER  MEDAL        .  .     H.  Cantel  (Bey),  (Egypt). 

SILVER  „  .  .     T.  WiCKHAM  Jones  (Shanghai). 

BRONZE        „  .  .J.  Hamish  Wilson  (Egypt). 

BRONZE        „  .  .     C.  P.  L.  VAN  Kinschot 

(Dutch  Indies  and  Orange  Free  State). 

Egypt  and  Suez  Canal. 

Wilson,  J.  Hamish. — All  varieties  of  watermark,  perforation,  and  postmarks 
of  all  the  issues  of  the  country,  with  essays,  proofs,  Fiscals,  etc. 

Cantel,  Henri  (Bey). — The  first  issue  (1866)  includes  all  values  in  shades  and 
varieties  of  perforation,  as  well  as  imperforate  specimens  and  varieties  of  obliteration. 
To  be  noted  also  are  used  and  unused  copies  of  the  5  piastres,  rose,  with  the  sur- 
charge of  the  10  p.,  as  also  the  2  p.  bisected.  In  the  1867  issue,  varieties  and  errors  of 
perforation  in  addition  to  the  four  types  of  each  value.  The  1872  issue  on  thick  and 
thin  paper,  including  also  tcte-bcche  and  inverted  surcharges.  The  later  issues  are 
also  represented.  The  Suez  Canal  stamps,  all  four  values,  used,  unused,  and  in 
blocks.  This  seemingly  official  exhibit  is  practically  complete,  and  shows  remarkable 
taste  in  the  mounting.     It  is  to  be  hoped  that  it  may  never  be  broken  up. 

Shanghai  and  China. 

Jones,  T.  Wickham. — Shanghai :  All  the  varieties  of  paper,  and  nearly  all  the 
numerous  types.  There  are  nine  specimens  of  the  4  cand.  with  the  error  "mace," 
two  of  which  are  used,  and  five  examples  of  the  8  can.  with  the  same  error.  The 
various  surcharged  stamps  of  1873  to  1877  are  strongly  represented,  and  include  the 
I  cand.  and  3  cand.  on  i6  cents;  the  i  cand.  on  3  cand.,  yellow;  the  i  cand.  on 
3  cand.,  rose  on  rose ;  the  i  cand.  on  12  cand.,  grey-brown ;  and  the  6,  9,  and  12  cand. 
of  1876  with  the  same  surcharge.  There  is  an  imperforate  and  also  a  perforate 
specimen  of  the  i  cand.,  rose  (error),  of  1876,  and  the  subsequent  issues  include  all 
the  varieties  of  perforation  and  shade,  some  of  the  provisionals  of  1893  being  in 
blocks  and  entire  sheets.  The  stamps  of  China  complete.  An  exhibit  of  exceptional 
merit  in  the  untiring  interest  and  knowledge  evidenced  by  the  collection. 

Van  Kinschot,  C.  P.  L. — An  exhibit  of  Dutch  Indies  and  Orange  Free  State. 

Special  Awards. 

For  Collection  of  Transvaal.    Presented  by  "W.  S.  Lincoln,  Esq. 

GOLD  MEDAL  .  .  .  .     R.  Pearce. 

For  Collection  of  Shanghai.    Presented  by  David  Benjamin,  Esq. 
GOLD  MEDAL  ....     T.  Wickham  Jones. 

AMERICA. 

Division  IV.    Section  A. 

GOLD  MEDAL  .  .  H.  J.  Duveen  (United  States). 

SILVER      „  .  .  F.  R.  GiNN  (United  States). 

SILVER      „  .  .  T.  W.  Hall  (Colombia). 

BRONZE    „  .  .  Dr.  G.  Michelsen  (Colombia). 

United  States  of  America. 

DuvEEN,  H.  J. — Commencing  with  the  Postmasters'  stamps  there  are  two  of 
the  5  c,  Baltimore,  on  blue  and  on  white  ;  Brattleboro',  on  the  original  envelope ; 
Millbury  and  St.  Louis,  two  reconstructed  sheets,  one  the  first  issue  on  greyish 
paper,  and  the  other  showing  the  plate  altered  by  the  substitution  of  "  20 "  for 
"5"  in  the  two  upper  5  c.  stamps  on  grey-lilac  paper,  two  single   10  c,  one  5  c. 


THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION.  20t 

another  5  c.  on  original,  and  a  10  c.  on  pelure.  In  general  issues,  three  blocks 
of  four  of  the  5  c.  and  a  strip  of  four  of  the  10  c.  of  the  1847  issue.  In  the 
1 85 1  issue  are  blocks  of  four  of  all  values  (except  the  24  c,  of  which  there  is  a 
single  specimen),  and  in  the  same  set  perforated  of  1855  are  similar  or  larger 
blocks  of  all  values,  the  prominent  varieties  of  engraving  or  shade  being  shown. 
In  the  1861  set  are  six  of  the  "Premiere  Gravure,"  and  blocks  of  four  of  all 
values  (except  the  12  c),  including  the  3  c,  pink,  and  5  c,  ochre.  A  specimen  of 
the  3  c,  scarlet,  is  also  shown  here.  In  the  same  types  with  grille  are  unused 
copies  of  the  3  c.  with  grille  all  over,  and  grilles  13  x  16  mm.  and  12  x  14  mm.; 
also  the  2  c.  with  the  latter.  All  values  with  the  11x13  mm.  are  found  in 
blocks  of  four  (or  larger),  except  the  2  c,  of  which  there  is  a  pair.  Blocks  of 
six  distinguish  the  1869  issue,  but  the  15  c.  with  frame  is  in  a  block  of  four. 
There  are  also  used  specimens  of  the  three  values  with  inverted  centres,  and  the 
original  set  without  grille  only  wants  the  6  c.  In  the  printing  of  the  National 
Company  is  a  24  c.  with  grille  used,  most  of  the  other  values  being  represented 
in  blocks  of  four  at  least.  In  the  Continental  Company's  reissue  of  1875  ^^  a 
complete  set  of  the  four  values,  and  the  American  Company's  reissued  set  of  four 
of  1880  is  also  complete.  Sets  on  the  experimental  papers,  namely,  lilac-laid, 
chemically-toned,  and  double  or  split  paper  complete  the  exhibit.  Between  the 
two  exhibits  of  U.S.  it  is  a  difficult  task  to  appraise  the  relative  merits,  both  being 
universally  recognised  as  tours  de  force  in  every  way. 

GiNN,  F.  R. — This  collection,  well  known  as  being  the  patient  work  of  many 
years,  was  admired  exceedingly.  The  specimens  include  Government  issues  from 
1847  to  1895,  an  exception  being  made  in  the  case  of  the  5  c,  black,  of  New 
York,  of  1842,  specimens  of  which  are  displayed  showing  varieties  on  the  plate. 
The  issue  of  1847  includes  numerous  copies  of  the  5  c,  in  pairs,  etc.,  and  five 
of  the  10  c.  In  the  1851  issue  the  three  types  of  the  i  c,  five  copies  of  the 
5  c,  the  three  varieties  of  the  10  c.  and  the  12  c,  inclusive  of  three  pairs,  are 
to  be  found.  In  the  1853  issue  the  three  types  of  the  i  c.  are  shown  in  blocks 
with  other  specimens ;  two  copies  of  the  5  c,  brick-red,  and  all  subsequent  varieties 
thereof;  a  block  of  four  of  the  24  c,  with  numerous  shades;  as  also  of  the  30  c. 
and  90  c.  The  "Premieres  Gravures"  of  the  i,  3,  10,  24,  and  30,  and  the 
Government  reprints,  are  also  exhibited.  The  1861  issue  includes  shades  of  the 
5  c,  yellow-brown,  and  24  c,  purple,  all  values  with  grille  and  the  reprints. 
The  1869  issues  include  all  shades  with  and  without  grille.  The  1870  and 
subsequent  issues  emanating  from  the  various  printers,  and  also  with  the  various 
grilles,  are  exhibited  in  numerous  shades.  The  departmental  stamps  include  the 
high  values  of  State,  and  all  the  subsequent  issues  are  represented  by  numerous 
specimens.  All  stamps  in  this  exhibit  are  unused.  The  used  portion  of  the 
collection  also  includes  practically  all  the  foregoing,  inclusive  of  many  blocks, 
strips,  varieties  of  postmark,  and  the  15  c.  and  24  c.  of  1869,  with  centres  inverted. 

Colombian  Republic  and  States. 

MiCHELSEN,  Dr.  G. — An  exhibit  comprising  in  eight  volumes  the  issues  of  1859 
and  i860,  including  blocks  of  the  10  c,  unused,  of  the  former,  and  shades  of  all 
values,  used  and  unused,  and  blocks  of  the  5  c.  of  the  latter.  In  1861  will  be 
found  a  strip  and  a  pair  of  the  i  peso,  unused,  with  numerous  shades  of  all 
values.  In  1862  are  exhibited  10  c,  eleven;  20  c,  seven;  50  c,  twenty-seven; 
I  peso,  thirteen.  1863  includes  the  50  c,  red,  error;  1864  includes  a  sheet  and 
blocks  of  the  50  c.  and  i  p. ;  1865  includes  a  sheet  of  the  50  c.  and  blocks  of 
other  values;  1867  includes  sheets  of  the  20  c,  50  c,  two  shades,  and  i  p.; 
also  sheets  of  the  10  c,  20  c,  and  50  c,  in  several  shades,  and  ditto  of  the  5  p. 
Subsequent  issues  present  similar  features.  Antioquia,  first  issues,  2 J-  c,  one,  unused; 
two,  used;  5  c,  three,  used;  10  c,  two;  and  i  p.,  five — all  the  specimens  of  the 
last  two  values  having  pen  cancellations.  The  prominent  varieties  of  the  later  issues 
are  all  represented.  Bolivar,  10  c,  four  specimens,  used;  Cundinamarca,  Panama, 
etc.,  are  fully  shown.  Tolima,  5  c.  on  blue  laid,  three  sheets  of  ten  each  ;  5  c. 
on  white,  four  blocks  of  six;  5  c.  on  blue  wove,  two  sheets  of  ten,  all  unused. 
Two  reconstructed  sheets  of  the  5  c.  on  blue,  and  three  of  the  5  c.  on  buff;  and 
the  succeeding  issues,  unused,  mostly  in  blocks  and  pairs.     It  was  thought  probable 


202  THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION. 

that  if  the  early  issues  had  been  stronger  unused  it  might  have  been  given  a  higher 
place  by  the  judges. 

Hall,  T.  W. — A  series  of  shades  of  the  issues  of  1859  to  1864,  including  the 
original  50  c,  slate,  error,  of  i860  (5  c.  altered),  and  a  pair  of  the  20  c,  red,  of  1862. 
In  the  1876-84  issues  various  coloured  papers  are  shown,  as  also' errors  of  the 
1 88 1  issue  and  a  pair  of  the  1890,  unpaid,  on  laid  batomi'e.  Amongst  the  States 
the  noticeable  stamps  are :  Antioquia,  first  issue,  complete  set,  with  duplicates 
of  most  values,  and  1889-90  provisionals,  in  entire  sheets.  Bolivar,  most  issues 
complete.  Tolima,  seventy  copies  of  the  type-set  issues  of  1868,  including  entire 
plates  of  the  5  c,  black  or  buff,  on  white,  and  on  quadrille  papers — an  exhibit 
expressing  due  Philatelic  knowledge,  which  received  a  well-deserved  Silver  Medal. 

Confederate  States. 
*AvERY,  W.  B. — The  locally  issued  stamps  of  these  States  include  Athens,  5  c, 
five  and  a  pair ;  Baton  Rouge,  2  c.  ;  green  Columbia  (envelope),  5  c,  three ;  Charles- 
ton, 5  c,  two,  and  envelope;  Canton,  two;  Danville,  three;  Fredericksburg,  5  c, 
three;  10  c,  one;  Gohad,  10  c  ;  Knoxville,  5  c,  black;  5  c,  red,  in  blocks  and 
shades  ;  Lynchburg,  5  c,  blue,  three  ;  10  c,  black  :  5  c.  (oval),  black  ;  Lenoir,  5  c,  two  ; 
Marion,  2  c.  ;  Madison,  3  c.  ;  Montgomery,  5  c. ;  Livingstone,  5  c.  ;  Macon,  5  c,  green ; 
5  c,  yellow,  three;  Memphis,  5  c,  two;  2  c,  block  of  46;  Alobile,  2  c,  5  c.  ;  New 
Orleans,  Nashville,  Petersburg,  Ringgold,  Rheatown,  Pleasant  Shade,  pair;  Telico 
Plains,  two  pairs  ;  Raleigh  and  Salem.  Many  of  the  specimens  are  on  the  original 
covers,  and  include  shades  and  varieties  of  impression.  The  general  issue  also  in  all 
shades  and  varieties,  used  and  unused.  Mr.  Avery's  collection  of  the  Confederate 
States  is  well  known  as  being  one  of  the  finest  in  the  world. 

Hawaii. 
*AvERY,  W.  B. — First  issue,  a  5  c.  and  the  two  types  of  the  13c.;  in  the  1853  issue 
the  5  c.  and  the  13  c.  on  thick  paper,  used. 

Mexico. 

Frentzel,  R. — First  issue,  1856,  used  and  unused,  with  and  without  surcharge, 
also  some  "  Habilitados  "  and  other  varieties.  The  1861  issue  contains  errors  of  the 
\  real  and  i  real.  The  1863  issue  contains,  besides  several  surcharged,  two  stamps 
postally  used.  The  Eagle  issues  are  shown  in  great  variety,  a  large  number  unused, 
including  3  centavos  (two)  and  one  used  copy  of  the  same  stamp.  The  Maximilian 
series  and  the  issue  of  1868  comprise  most  of  the  varieties.  In  the  1872  issue 
"watermarked"  specimens,  as  also  three  stamps  on  laid  paper.  The  1874-77  and 
1878-83  issues  are  fully  represented  with  some  uncatalogued  surcharges.  In  the  1879 
issue  are  many  "  Habilitados."  The  later  issues  are  all  fully  represented  in  used  and 
unused  specimens.  Only  a  small  portion  of  the  exhibitor's  extensive  collection  was 
displayed  in  the  cases,  owing  to  want  of  space. 

Section  B. 

GOLD  MEDAL      .         .         .         .     H.  R.  Oldfield  (Bolivia). 
SILVER       „  ....     Alph.  Bruck  (Brazil). 

BRONZE     „  .         .         .         .     T.  W.  Hall  (Peru). 

Bolivia. 
Oldfield,  H.  R. — An  extensive  collection  of  much  merit,  comprising  large  series 
of  the  Eagle  issue ;  in  the  5  centavos  value,  various  blocks  in  the  yellow-green  shade, 
complete  sheets  of  all  the  plates,  including  an  unused  sheet  and  one  made  up  of  the 
lilac  stamp,  as  well  as  single  specimens  showing  the  varieties  peculiar  to  each  plate 
and  those  to  be  found  on  the  different  plates,  with  strips  and  single  stamps  occupying 
the  same  position  on  each,  showing  the  retouches  and  alterations.  There  is  also  a 
made-up  plate  of  the  10  centavos  value,  complete  except  for  one  stamp  ;  two  complete 
plates  of  the  50  and  100  centavos;  used  and  unused  copies  of  the  50  centavos,  blue, 
and  of  the  100  centavos,  green,  including  a  partially  reconstructed  plate  of  the  latter. 
In  the  1867  and  1871  issues  are  several  used  and  unused  copies  of  the  500  centavos, 
nine  stars  and  eleven  stars,  with  complete  sets  of  the  later  issues,  used  and  unused,  and 
a  set  of  the  Interior  stamps,  used,  on  original  envelopes. 


THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION.  203 

Argentine  Confederation  and  Republic,  Corrientes  and  Cordova. 

Brazil  Section  of  the  Berlin  Philatelic  Society. — The  several  issues  of  the 
Confederation  and  Republic,  for  the  most  part  in  blocks,  unused.  The  Society  also 
sent  a  representative  collection  of  Brazil,  but  all  arrived  too  late  for  display. 

Brazil. 

Ehrenbach,  R. — Among  the  stam])s  here  shown  are  the  1843  issue  in  various 
states  of  the  plates  on  both  greyish  and  yellowish  paper ;  30  reis,  twenty-two  unused 
copies,  including  block  of  four  and  a  pair ;  60  reis,  twenty-one ;  90  reis,  fifteen,  all 
unused  ;  and  the  1844  issue  in  various  states  of  the  plates  on  various  papers,  including 
180  reis,  four;  300  reis,  four;  600  reis,  seven,  including  a  strip  of  four,  all  unused. 

Bruck,  Alph. — A  superb  exhibit  of  Brazil,  unused  and  used  in  blocks,  pairs,  and 
on  original  letters.  The  first  issue  includes  fourteen  copies  of  the  90  r.,  and  others  in 
blocks  and  on  letters.  In  the  issue  of  1844,  with  slanting  figures,  will  be  found  i8or., 
nine ;  300  r.,  fourteen,  including  a  block  of  six  unused ;  and  600  r.,  five ;  and 
used  specimens  showing  shades  and  varieties  of  paper.  The  perforations  of  the 
succeeding  issues,  as  well  as  the  variations  of  shade,  paper,  etc.,  are  illustrated 
by  numerous  specimens,  used  and  unused;  also  a  practically  complete  collection 
on  "  entires." 

Buenos  Ayres. 

Ehrenbach,  R. — Mr.  Ehrenbach's  Naval  Review  attracted  almost  as  much  atten- 
tion as  that  held  at  Spithead,  and  included  upwards  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
stamps  of  the  "Ship"  issues,  unused,  in  a  large  variety  of  shades,  comprising:  Dos 
Pesos,  eighteen ;  Tres  Pesos,  eleven ;  Cuato  Pesos,  red,  five ;  Cinco  Pesos,  five, 
including  the  chrome-yellow ;  Cuato  Pesos,  brown,  twenty-two ;  In  Pesos,  brown, 
thirteen,  including  a  double  print ;  To  Pesos,  blue,  fourteen,  including  a  pair ; 
In  Pesos,  blue,  nine,  including  a  double  print.  Of  this  value  there  are  also  forty-eight 
stamps,  of  which  more  than  half  are  unused,  which  represent  the  varieties  on 
the  sheet.  The  issue  is  also  exhibited  in  used  specimens,  one  hundred  and  sixty, 
among  which  are  two  copies  of  the  To  Pesos,  blue,  with  the  word  "  Cuato  "  unerased 
or  only  very  faintly.  The  Head  issues  include  fine  and  coarse  printings,  used  and 
unused  in  numerous  shades. 

Oldfield,  H.  R. — A  general  collection  of  this  country. 

Pacific  Steam  Navigation  Company  and  Peru. 
Hall,  T.  W. — Six  postmarked  copies  of  the  i  real,  blue,  inclusive  of  two  used  by 
the  Company,  three  at  Lima  and  one  at  Callao ;  also  postmarked  specimen  of  2  reals, 
red.  The  1858  issues,  used  and  unused,  including  a  pair  and  seven  singles  of  medio 
peso,  yellow  (two  unused),  and  two  of  the  medio  peso,  rose.  Originals  and  re- 
engravings  of  X  peseta  and  i  dinero  of  i860.  Pair  and  two  singles  of  i  dinero  i860, 
with  Arms  reversed.  The  series  of  Chilian  stamps  with  Peruvian  postmarks  includes 
the  I,  2,  and  5  c.  of  1878.  The  various  triangular  and  oval  surcharges  of  1883-4  and 
nearly  all  the  town  surcharges,  as  well  as  many  curious  varieties,  including  forgeries, 
etc.,  for  comparison,  will  be  noted.     A  very  strong  collection. 

Uruguay. 

Ehrenbach,  R. — "  Diligencias,"  including  the  second  type  of  the  60  centes. 
Among  the  block  letters  there  is  a  block  of  the  240  cent,  with  a  white  space  in  centre 
in  lieu  of  a  stamp,  and  likewise  the  120  cent  in  a  tcte-bcche  pair.  The  issues  of  1859 
and  i860,  with  thin  and  thick  figures,  are  represented  by  full  ranges  of  shades. 

Section  C. 

SILVER  MEDAL    .         .         .     R.  Meyer  (Chili). 

BRONZE        „  .         .         .     E.  S.  Davidson  (Cuba  and  Porto  Rico). 

ChUi. 

Meyer,  R. — Issue  r  includes  shades  of  the  5  and  loc.  on  blue  paper,  unused,  as 
also  all  other  values,  showing  the  large  and  small  watermarks,  in  many  cases  in  pairs, 
etc.,  unsevered,  unused   and   used.     A  block  of  the  5  c.  on  rough  paper,  with  a 


2o4  THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION. 

watermark  of  the  Chilian  Arms  in  the  centre  of  the  sheet,  is  also  exhibited.  The 
succeeding  issues  include  both  used  and  unused,  in  many  shades,  and  several 
specimens  of  the  loc.  of  Issue  i  bisected  on  the  original  covers. 

Cuba  and  Porto  Rico,  and  Fernando  Po. 

Davidson,  E.  S. — The  issues  used  primarily  for  Cuba  in  conjunction  with  Porto 
Rico  and  subsequently  for  the  former  alone,  both  unused  and  used.  Among  the  early 
Cuba  will  be  found  several  copies  of  the  stamps  surcharged  "  Y^." 

Van  Kinschot,  C.  P.  L. — Curac^ao  and  Surinam.  The  several  issues  of  these  two 
countries  in  shades  and  varieties,  many  of  the  specimens  being  unused ;  also  entire 
sheets  of  some  of  the  Unpaid  Letter  stamps. 

Special  Awards. 

For  Collection  of  Colombia  and  States.    Presented  by  M.  Giwelb,  Esq. 
GOLD  MEDAL T.  W.  Hall. 

For  Collection  of  Mexico.    Presented  by  W.  T.  Wilson,  Esq. 
GOLD  MEDAL R.  Frentzel. 

For  Collection  of  Peru.    Presented  by  Buhl  &  Co.,  Limited. 
GOLD  MEDAL T.  W.  Hall. 

Class   III. 

COLLECTIONS   OF   RARE  STAMPS. 


GOLD  MEDAL 
*GOLD 

SILVER      „ 
*SILVER      „ 

BRONZE    „ 


W.  Thorne. 

Harvey  R.  G.  Clarke. 

M.  Giwelb. 

A.    S.    TOMSON. 

H.  R.  Oldfield. 


*  Presented  by  W.  H.  Peckitt,  Esq. 

Thorne,  AV. — Mr.  Thome's  selection  of  loo  rare  stamps  was  confessedly  un- 
rivalled in  this  class,  several  of  them  being  "  semi-unique."  The  stamp  is  the 
4  c,  British  Guiana,  of  1856,  indigo,  paper  coloured  on  both  sides,  which  is  a  grand 
"four-square"  copy,  and  probably  is  not  excelled  by  any  other  like  specimen  extant. 
The  27  para,  Roumania,  is  also  a  great  rarity  unused.  In  addition  to  these  were 
included  Vancouver  Island,  5  c,  rose,  imperf. ;  British  Guiana,  1850,  4  c,  pale  yellow, 
ovi.  pelure  paper;  1856,  4  c,  crimson,  4  c,  blue,  paper  coloured  on  surface  only; 
Canada,  i2d.,  black;  Reunion,  15  c.  and  30  c,  black  on  blue,  the  former  unused 
also;  Dominica,  id.  on  6d.,  green;  Ceylon,  4d.  and  8d.,  imperf.;  Great  Britain,  £,\, 
watermark  Anchor,  unused;  ditto,  watermark  Cross;  Hawaii,  13  c,  Type  II.; 
Indian,  4  a.,  red  and  blue,  with  head  inverted;  Newfoundland,  is.,  carmine-vermilion, 
unused;  Straits  Settlements  issue,  12  c,  green,  with  double  surcharge;  Tuscany, 
3  lire;  U.S.,  the  Brattleboro'  local  stamp  (with  engraver's  inscription  at  base,  especially 
interesting  in  this  condition);  1869,  the  series  with  inverted  centre,  including  a  block 
of  four  of  the  24  c.  (this  represents  the  apotheosis  of  bloating  !) ;  Virgin  Islands, 
IS.,  with  figure  omitted;  Spain,  12  c,  rose  and  blue,  imperf.,  a  pair,  one  with  frame 
inverted ;  and  other  rarities  in  European,  United  States,  and  Colonial  issues. 

Clarke,  Harvey,  R.  G. — St.  Vincent,  6d.,  yellow-green,  clean-cut  perf. ;  pairs 
of  the  IS.,  rose  (shades),  including  the  compound  perf.  ;  Mauritius,  2d.,  large  fillet 
(two  used),  and  the  2d.,  "  pence  " ;  New  South  A\'ales,  Sydney  Views,  several, 
including  the  2d.,  violet-blue,  Plate  4;  3d.,  "  Laureated "'  and  "  Diadem,"  each  with 
error  watermark  "2";  Ceylon,  4d.,  8d.,  gd.,  and  2s.,  imperf.;  the  9d.,  perf.,  in  the 
rare  shade,  and  the  later  24  c,  plum  ;  Newfoundland,  6d.,  orange-vermilion,  and  is. 
in  each  colour;  Canada,  i2d.,  used;  Nova  Scotia,  is.  (two  copies);  Vancouver,  5  c. 


THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION.  205 

imperf. ;  British  Guiana,  some  of  the  "  Circular  "  issue,  including  the  6  c,  green  (cut 
square,  used) ;  the  4  c,  1852  (one  copy) ;  six  of  the  4  c,  blue,  provisional  of  1862  ;  and 
the  4  c.  of  1853  with  framed  corners.     A  very  choice  selection. 

GiWELB,  M. — The  pink  of  condition  was  the  characteristic  of  Mr.  Giwelb's 
stamps,  which  included  Austria,  "  Mercury,"  yellow ;  Buenos  Ayres,  4  p.,  vermilion  ; 
India,  long  service,  set  of  2  a.,  4  a.,  and  8  a.  ;  Lagos,  1887,  the  2s.  6d.,  5s.,  and  los. ; 
St.  Vincent,  4d.  on  is.;  Spain,  the  2  reales  of  1851,  1852,  and  1853,  and  the  3  c, 
bronze,  Madrid  and  Trinidad,  the  "  Lady  McLeod  "  stamp,  all  unused.  Amongst  the 
used  stamps  are  Antioquia,  a  set  of  the  four  values  of  the  first  issue;  Ceylon,  8d., 
imperforate;  New  Brunswick  and  Nova  Scotia,  is.;  Roumania  (1854),  54  and  108 
para;  Suez  Canal,  an  entire  envelope  with  two  copies  of  the  20c. 

ToMSON,  A.  S. — New  Brunswick,  "Connell";  Barbados,  id.  on  5s.,  strip  of  three, 
and  three  pairs,  showing  various  types;  St.  Vincent,  the  6d.,  yellow-green,  clean-cut 
perf,  and  a  pair  of  id.  on  6d.  ;  Turks  Lslands,  several  of  the  2^d.  on  is.  ;  British 
Columbia,  10  c.  and  i  dollar,  perf.  fourteen;  Canada,  6d.,  perf,  unused;  United 
States,  3c.,  grill  all  over;  Newfoundland,  is.,  in  both  colours,  unused,  and  the  2d., 
carmine-vermilion,  unused ;  several  good  Nevis ;  Tobago,  6d.,  CA,  etc. 

Oldfiei.d,  H.  R. — Although  limited  to  the  one  continent,  Mr.  Oldfield's  stamps 
were  extremely  well  selected  and  of  fine  quality,  including :  America  only,  the  "  Lady 
Macleod";  six  of  the  is.  values  of  New  Brunswick,  Nova  Scotia,  and  Newfoundland; 
Colombian  Republic,  stamps  of  the  1861  and  1862  issues,  with  the  error  50  c.,  red,  of 
1863,  and  high  values  of  later  issues;  the  4  and  5  pesos  of  Buenos  Ayres;  Antioquia, 
first  issue,  2^0.,  two,  and  5c.,  three,  one  unused;  Bolivar,  first  issue,  green,  two; 
Pacific  Steam  Navigation  Company,  the  two  values  used  and  unused ;  Peru,  medio 
peso,  rose,  three ;  and  some  Uruguay  and  Venezuela  stamps. 

Fabri,  Pio. — New  Brunswick,  5c.,  "Connell";  Canada,  i2d.  ;  Ceylon,  first  issue, 
8d.,  unused;  India,  1854,  pair  of  4a.,  first  setting  with  the  blue  line  frame,  unused; 
Western  Australia,  first  issue,  4d.,  with  frame  inverted,  literally  a  rara  avis  ;  Spain, 
2  reales,  1851,  1852,  and  1853,  and  Madrid,  3  curatos,  all  unused;  Switzerland, 
Geneva,  10  c,  Vaud,  4  c.,  all  unused;  Tuscany,  60  crazie,  pair  of  2  soldi,  strip  of 
five,  I  soldo  on  bluish,  all  unused,  and  3  lire,  used;  Russia,  1858,  10,  20,  and  30 
kop.,  with  wmk.,  unused;  Russian  Levant,  1865,  strip  of  three  (2  kop.),  blue  and 
brown;  Finland,  8  pen.,  black  on  green,  small  serpentine,  perf.  lo^,  of  the  highest 
rarity,  and  error  10  pen.  on  wove,  unused;  Oldenburg,  ^^  thaler,  \  gr.,  2  gr.,  on 
coloured  paper,  all  unused ;  Buenos  Ayres,  4  ps.  and  5  ps.,  the  latter  unused ; 
Colombian  Republic,  1862,  20c.,  unused;  Antioquia,  first  issue,  2ic.,  unused;  New 
South  Wales,  Sydney,  3d.,  unused.  Fine  undoubtedly  as  were  the  stamps  shown 
here,  the  exhibit  was  unfortunately  marred  by  several  specimens  of  doubtful  origin. 

*AvERY,  W.  B. — Great  Britain,  V.R.,  a  block  of  20 ;  a  series  of  American  Locals, 
amongst  which  are  some  5  and  10  c,  St.  Louis;  a  Brattleboro'  5  c,  and  the  Millbury; 
two  sets  of  Reunions;  the  3  lire,  Tuscany,  used  and  unused;  the  St.  Helena,  6d., 
carmine ;  and  a  block  of  eight  Naples  Cross,  etc.  It  is  almost  to  be  regretted  that 
the  Confederates  were  separated  from  Mr.  Avery's  splendid  exhibit  hereof. 

*H.R.H.  THE  Duke  of  Saxe-Coburg  and  Gotha,  K.G. — Austria,  second 
issue,  2  kr.,  orange,  unused;  Moldavia,  54  par. ;  Naples  Cross,  unused;  Spain,  some 
of  the  2  reales,  and  the  3c.,  bronze,  Madrid;  Sweden,  24skb.,  unused;  Switzerland, 
Neuchatel,  5  c,  unused;  Wurtemberg,  18  kr.,  silk  thread,  unused.  Great  Britain 
and  Colonies  the  V.R.  (two);  Canada,  i2d.  ;  Hongkong,  96c.,  yellow-brown, 
unused;  several  unused  Nevis,  including  the  6d.,  lithographed,  and  the  6d.,  green; 
New  Brunswick,  3d.,  yellow,  unused;  New  South  Wales,  id.,  Sydney,  Plate  i,  and 
6d.,  laureated,  both  unused;  New  Zealand,  is.,  imperf,  NZ,  unused;  St.  Christo- 
pher, id.,  lilac-rose,  CA,  and  4d.,  blue,  CA,  both  unused;  St.  Vincent,  5s.,  Star, 
unused;  and  Sierra  Leone  the  first  6d.,  imperf ;  Brazil,  "  slanting  figures,"  300,  unused; 
Buenos  Ayres,  4ps.,  red;  some  of  the  Philippines  of  the  first  and  second  issues,  mostly 
unused;  and  U.S.A.  (1856),  perforated,  5  c,  red-brown,  and  90  c,  blue.  The  public  will 
appreciate  the  unabated  interest  shown  by  H.R.H.  in  Philately,  as  evinced  by  this 
present  exhibit,  which  was  specially  selected  by  H.R.H.  personally,  and,  as  will  be  seen, 
includes  many  fine  and  rare  stamps. 


2o6  THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION. 

*H.R.H.  THE  Duke  of  York,  K.G.— Great  Britain  and  Colonies,  including  all 
unused,  unless  otherwise  stated:  Great  Britain,  6d.,  octagonal  strip  of  four— a 
brilliant  row,  and  worthy  to  be  incorporated  in  the  exhibit  Class  I.  No.  i,  which  has 
obtained  the  Exhibition  Gold  Medal.  Ceylon,  |d.,  on  bluish  paper,  rouletted,  and 
24c.,  plum;  Straits  Settlements,  12c.,  with  doubfe  overprint;  Barbados,  id.,  on  half 
of  5s. ;  British  Columbia  and  Vancouver  Island,  a  pair  of  the  2id.,  imperforate — this 
pair  is  unique,  and  a  single  copy  of  the  same  in  the  darker  shade,  and  the  5  c,  rose, 
imperf.,  used;  British  Guiana,  i860,  8c.  and  12  c.,  perf.  15;  Canada,  6d.,  perf. ; 
New  Brunswick,  3d  ,  yellow  ;  St.  Vincent,  a  number  of  the  scarcer  stamps,  including 
4d.  on  IS.,  the  4d.,  blue  in  several  shades,  perforations  and  watermarks  among  them; 
the  4d.,  CA,  dull  blue;  Trinidad,  id.,  black  on  lilac,  CA;  Turks  Islands,  is., 
prune,  several  varieties  of  the  2^d.  on  the  id.,  6d.,  and  is.,  in  both  colours, 
including  that  on  the  6d.,  with  small  fraction;  Lagos,  the  first  2s.  6d.,  5s.,  and  los. ; 
Mauritius,  is.,  "Britannia,"  green,  perf.;  New  South  Wales,  3d.,  laureated  on  blue 
paper;  and  8d.,  orange  (large  square),  imperf.;  New  Zealand,  id.,  NZ,  rouletted, 
used,  6d.,  NZ,  perf. ;  Tasmania,  id.,  first  issue;  Victoria,  several  varieties  of  the  2d. 
and  4d.  "emblems,"  5s.,  blue  on  yellow,  etc.  etc. 

The  President  of  the  London  Philatelic  Society  has  once  more  shown  his  abiding 
interest  in  Philately  by  exhibiting  a  few  gems  from  his  now  exhaustive  and  important 
collection  of  the  stamps  of  the  British  Empire. 

Lamplough,  E.  S. — Fifty-five  stamps,  including  "  Suez  Canal "  (some  on  three 
original  envelopes) ;  Pacific  Steam  Navigation,  three  used,  i  rl.,  and  blocks  of  four 
unused,  i  and  2  rls.  on  blue  paper ;  New  Brunswick,  "  Connell " ;  Mauritius,  "  large 
fillet";  Great  Britain,  V.R. ;  Western  Australia,  6d.,  bronze,  and  the  same  stamp 
rouletted  ;  New  South  Wales,  2d.  ;  "  Sydney  View,"  on  entire  envelope,  with  letter 
posted  on  the  first  day  of  issue,  ist  January,  1859  (the  letter  being  dated  in  error 
I  St  January,  1849). 

HoMERSHAM,  W.  C. — British  and  British  Colonial  stamps,  with  a  few  of  the 
United  States  and  other  countries,  an  unused  6d.  octagonal  of  Great  Britain,  and 
a  pair  of  the  lod.,  and  a  90  c,  Lincoln,  U.S.A.,  unused,  are  amongst  the  most 
noticeable  stamps. 

Hynes,  G.  J. — Moldavia,  80  para,  on  blue  paper,  unused;  a  set  of  early  Afghans 
of  all  values;  a  series  of  Nevis,  and  the  Finland  error  10  pen.,  brown-lilac. 

Beckton,  W.  Dorning. — The  50  grana,  Naples;  the  3  cuartos,  Madrid;  the 
I  and  2  reales  second  issue  Philippine  Islands ;  the  dVdi.,  orange-vermilion,  of 
Newfoundland.  Amongst  the  used  copies  are  :  The  Naples  Arms,  blue ;  the  2  soldi 
and  60  crazie  of  Tuscany;  Spain,  2  reales,  of  1851,  1852,  and  1853,  and  the  i  reale 
of  1854,  light  blue,  and  of  1865,  the  12  cuartos  with  inverted  head;  Mauritius,  the 
2d.,  blue,  large  fillet,  and  the  2d.,  blue,  of  second  issue,  error  "penoe";  the  is.  of 
Newfoundland,  New  Brunswick,  and  Nova  Scotia ;  and  Vancouver  Island,  the  5  c, 
rose,  imperf.,  and  a  pair  of  the  10  cent. 

Lincoln,  W.  S. — Ceylon,  8d.,  imperf. ;  Oldenburg,  i^th,  yellow,  unused ;  New 
South  Wales,  2d.,  Sydney  Views  (two),  unused;  New  Brunswick,  is.  (two  shades), 
and  the  "Connell"  stamp;  Portugal,  1853,  50  r.,  unused;  Turks  Islands,  is.,  prune; 
Zurich,  4  rappen,  horizontal  lines ;  Western  Australia,  2d.,  brown  on  red,  printed  on 
both  sides,  unused,  and  the  same  stamp  and  the  is,  brown,  rouletted,  the  latter 
unused;  Lagos,  los.,  brown;  St.  Vincent,  4d.  on  is.,  unused  and  used;  Mexico, 
3  c,  brown,  eagle,  with  surcharge,  unused;  Transvaal,  error  "Transvral";  and  other 
rare  stamps  of  many  British  Colonies  and  other  countries. 

Wright,  F.  A. — First  issue  of  Western  Australia,  of  Mauritius,  Post  Paid  2d., 
and  a  6d.,  orange-vermilion,  Newfoundland.  Representative  stamps  from  the  West 
Indies  and  other  British  Colonies.  Buenos  Ayres,  4  p.,  red,  and  5  p.,  yellow ; 
Antioquia,  first  issue,  2^  c,  blue,  and  5  c,  green;  Spain,  2  r.,  1851  ;  Zurich,  4  r.  ; 
Tobago,  6d.,  ochre,  watermark  Cr.  &  CA;  Turks  Islands,  is.,  prune;  Great  Britain, 
IDS.  and  ^i,  watermark  Anchor,  unused  ;  Canada,  i2d.,  black  ;  New  Brunswick  and 
Nova  Scotia,  is.,  violet ;  Ceylon,  8d.,  imperf.,  etc. 


THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION.  207 

CLASS    IV. 
Division    I. 

COLLECTIONS  (without  limit  as  to  number). 


GOLD    MEDAI> 
SILVER       „ 
BRONZE     „ 
BRONZE     „ 
BRONZE     „ 


W.  D.  Beckton. 
Mrs.  Hetley. 

W.    COWLAND. 

A.  H.  Dingwall. 
H.  L.  Hayman. 


The  entries  for  this  class  were  very  numerous,  hance  the  competition  very  keen. 
Collections  of  varying  interest  were  shown,  of  which  those  rewarded  by  the  judges 
were  assuredly  the  most  meritorious. 

Beckton,  W.  Dorning. — No  less  than  twenty-four  volumes  were  shown.  Each  of 
the  five  continents  were  represented  by  many  stamps  of  considerable  scarcity,  and 
the  collection  numbers  upwards  of  20,000.  Used  and  unused  specimens,  and 
there  are  a  large  number  of  unused  pairs  and  blocks.  Switzerland,  many  of  the 
Cantonals,  including  the  double  Geneva  ;  Poste  Locale  without  border,  etc.  In  Asia, 
Ceylon,  8d.,  gd.,  and  2s.,  and  an  unused  pair  of  the  is.  gd.  The  Roumania  Book  is 
very  fine,  consisting  principally  of  usused,  and  alone  would  have  been  a  powerful 
agent  in  the  obtaining  of  the  prize. 

Hetley,  Mrs.  H. — Five  volumes,  containing  a  collection  of  the  stamps  of  the 
West  Indies,  some  of  the  Australian  Colonies,  and  Japan.  In  South  Australia  the 
id.  imperf.  and  the  series  of  the  first  issue  complete  ;  the  3d.,  red,  surcharge  of  1870; 
the  4d.  of  187 1,  watermark  V  and  Crown.  In  Trinidad  singles  and  pairs  of  unused, 
two  of  the  Hthograph  stamps,  and  the  id.,  4d.,  and  6d.  of  the  11^-  perf.  In  St. 
Vincent  there  are  the  4d.,  yellow;  is.^  brown  and  vermilion;  and  several  of  the  4d. 
values  of  different  perfs.  and  watermarks,  all  unused,  and  the  provisional  4d.  on  is. 
The  Australian  Colonies  are  well  represented  all  round,  also  other  British  Colonies. 
Amongst  the  stamps  of  Japan  there  is  a  large  number  of  unused  in  large  blocks 
and  pairs- — -an  exhibit  well  deserving  of  the  Gold  Medal,  as  it  evinced  great 
Philatelic  knowledge  applied  to  a  large  area  of  collecting.  The  Medal  of  H.R.H. 
could  not  have  been  more  appropriately  awarded. 

CowLAND,  W. — Gibraltar,  first  issue,  is.;  Oldenburg,  1858,  ^gr.,  green;  the  Hanover 
ten  groschen;  Spain,  three  cuartos,  Madrid,  and  the  two  reales  of  1851-52  and  53; 
the  Tuscany  three  lire ;  the  Brazil  three  high  values  in  slanting  figures.  Bolivia, 
500  c,  with  nine  and  eleven  stars.  Buenos  Ayres,  three,  four,  and  five  pesos ;  New- 
foundland, 6id.  and  is.,  vermiHon ;  St.  Vincent,  4d.  on  is.,  and  the  5s. 

Dingwall,  A.  H. — Great  Britain  stamps  used  abroad,  illustrating  the  use  of 
the  stamps  in  foreign  countries  and  the  British  Colonies  and  provinces,  before  the 
latter  had  a  separate  postal  service. 

Hayman,  Harry  L. — In  this  fine  general  collection  of  22,500  stamps,  comprised 
in  twelve  volumes,  the  stamps  are  mostly  shown  both  unused  and  used.  Some  of  the 
chief  stamps  represented  are:  Great  Britain,  id.,  V.R.  ;  Finland,  10 p.,  error,  and 
block  of  three  errors,  3^  roubles;  used  Bergedorfs  ;  British  Guiana,  1853,  i  c.  and 
4c.,  unused,  in  pairs;  Virgin  Islands,  6d.,  imperf,  pair,  and  is.,  brown,  used;  Cape  of 
Good  Hope,  seventy-seven  wood-blocks,  unused  and  used  ;  Egypt,  the  errors  of  the 
first  issue,  unused ;  Mauritius,  |^d.  on  red  on  gd.,  lilac,  unused  ;  British  Central  Africa 
Protectorate,  the  set  up  to  ;;^2  5,  unused,  etc.  etc. 

Hayman,  Mrs.  H.  L. — Two  volumes,  comprising  about  11,200  stamps.  Amongst 
the  principal  items  are:  Great  Britain,  is.,  5s.,  los.,  and  20s.  I.R.,  official;  France, 
one  franc,  orange ;  Tuscany,  one  soldo,  unused ;  Cape  wood-blocks,  five ;  Lagos, 
1885  issue,  2S.  6d.  and  5s.;  Gold  Coast,  20s.,  carmine  and  green;  British  East 
Africa  Company,  the  set  to  five  rupees,  used;  British  Guiana,  i  c.  and  4c.  of  1853, 
unused;  and  4c.,  1851,  used. 


2o8  THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION. 

Lincoln,  William  S. — A  general  collection  in  a  "Lallier"  Album,  consisting  of 
over  4000  postage  stamps,  mostly  unused,  and  a  large  number  of  proofs,  etc.  Amongst 
the  most  noticeable  unused  stamps  are  a  sheet  of  New  Caledonia;  Great  Britain,  id., 
black,  V.R. ;  2d.,  blue,  without  lines,  and  id.,  red.  Archer  roulette;  Bergedorf,  i860, 
\  sch.  (black  on  violet),  and  three  (blue  on  rose);  Spain  early  issues,  1851,  2  and  10 
reales,  1853,  all  values,  and  Madrid  i  and  3  cuartos,  bronze;  Greece,  Paris  prints; 
Hanover,  1850  to  1864,  all  values;  Oldenburg,  all  values;  Saxony,  3  pfg. ;  Swiss: 
Zurich,  4r.,  Basle,  and  Winterthur;  Ceylon,  set  of  envelopes;  India,  \  anna,  red; 
Cape  wood-blocks ;  Mauritius  "  Post  Paid "  and  early  issues ;  Western  Australia, 
Sydney  Views  ;  Philippine  Islands,  1854  ;  Brazil,  all  the  large  figures  and  italic  figures ; 
sets  of  Nevis,  1861  issue;  Newfoundland,  1S62  and  1863;  United  States,  1851,  1857, 
etc.  etc.  Although  it  will  be  seen  that  there  were  many  fine  stamps  here,  the  collec- 
tion was  marred  by  the  admission  of  many  unnecessary  specimens  (such  as  "  Hamburg 
Locals  "),  and  there  were  also  included  many  forgeries,  some  of  an  egregious  nature. 

Reichenheim,  F. — Baden,  1851-3,  3  kr.,  yellow,  i  kr.,  white,  3kr.,  blue,  and  3kr., 
green,  unused  ;  Hamburg,  9  sch.  imp.,  used  ;  Mecklenburg-Schwerin,  *  sch.,  rouletted  ; 
Saxony,  3  pf.,  red,  and  Tuscany,  3  lire,  and  the  "  Basle,"  unused.  India,  the  top  row 
of  the  sheet  of  2  anna,  green  (1854);  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  id.  and  4d.  "wood- 
blocks"; Canada,  y^d.  and  lod. ;  and  West  Australia,  6d.,  bronze,  all  used.  Nevis, 
IS.,  green,  1867,  unused,  and  some  good  United  States.  Entire  envelopes  of  Poland, 
10  kop.,  black,  i860,  and  the  1820  Sardinia  letter  sheets. 

Collections  of  varying  interest  were  also  shown  in  this  division  by  Miss  Feyl 
de  Pfeil,  Miss  M.  Hayman,  P.  Arnhold,  Gaptain  A.  H.  Terry,  Mrs.  G.  Max  Miiller, 
Mrs.  W.  Blake  Fisher,  Mrs.  F.  P.  Leay,  Dr.  Heurtley  Sankey,  Mrs.  Russell-Ferguson, 
Mrs.  Davidson  of  TuUoch,  Mrs.  Livingston,  and  Mrs.  E.  F.  Green. 

Division   IL 

COLLECTIONS  (not  exceeding  4000  in  number). 

SILVER   MEDAL  ....  Eliot  Levy. 

SILVER         „  .  .  .  .  S.  M.  Castle. 

SILVER  „  .  .  .  .  F.  Bang. 

BRONZE       „  ....  Mrs.  Potts. 

Lew,  Eliot  T. — The  adhesive  postage  and  telegraph  stamps  of  Great  Britain, 
unused,  including  essays,  in  two  volumes.  In  the  id.  value  will  be  found  the  ^^R. 
(three)  and  the  whole  of  the  plate  numbers  in  blocks  and  strips,  nearly  all  the  2d. 
pairs  of  the  embossed  series,  and  also  the  5s.,  los.,  and  J[^\  in  both  watermarks. 
This  exceedingly  choice  lot  of  our  country's  stamps  was  worthy  of  being  exhibited  in 
exienso,  and  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  it  could  not  have  been  so  shown. 

Castle,  S.  M. — A  fine  collection  of  the  stamps  of  the  United  States  of  America,  in 
three  volumes,  of  about  4000  stamps,  including  departmentals,  but  not  periodicals  or 
Unpaid  Letter  stamps,  comprising :  New  York,  5  c,  pair,  used ;  1847,  10  c,  black,  five 
unused  and  pair  used ;  1855,  several  of  the  5  c.  and  30  c.  and  six  of  the  90  c. ;  186 1, 
IOC,  "premiere  gravure,"  used ;  90  c.,  eight  unused;  1862,  5  c,  chestnut,  six  unused; 
1868,  5c.,  grille,  9  by  13,  unu.sed;  24  c,  ditto,  pair  used,  and  90c.,  unused;  two 
complete  sets  of  the  reissue  of  the  1869  stamps,  all  unused.  The  remaining  general 
issues  fully  represented.  The  departmentals  arranged  according  to  the  various 
printings,  including  Executive,  two  sets  unused ;  and  sets  of  Justice,  Navy,  and 
Agriculture :   fine  condition  throughout. 

Bang,  Ferdinand. — A  really  beautiful  collection  of  European  stamps,  used, 
selected  with  the  greatest  discrimination.  The  various  countries  and  states  are  fully 
represented,  some  of  the  chief  items  being:  3  pf.  Saxony;  double  block  of  four  of 
the  :^  sch.,  roul.,  Mecklenburg-Schwerin,  on  original;  Oldenburg,  1858,  \  sgr.,  and 
other  values;  Schleswig-Holstein,  i860,  i  and  2  sch.;  Bremen,  complete,  including 
7  grote,  perf.,  on  letter ;  Liibeck,  complete ;  Bergedorf,  3  sch.  ;  Switzerland :  Zurich, 
4  rap.  ;  Basle,  2\  rap.  ;  \\'interthur ;  Geneva,  double  stamp  on  letter,  etc. ;  Spain,  the 
2  reales  of  1851-52-53,  and  12  c,  imperf.,  inverted  frame;  Naples,  the  trinacria; 
Tuscany,  2  soldi,  etc. 


THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION.  209 

Potts,  Mrs. — An  ancient  collection,  apparently  undisturbed  either  by  recent 
issues  or  modern  knowledge,  containing  some  forgeries,  but  many  scarce  stamps, 
e.g.,  a  page  of  the  early  Spanish  stamps  (some  of  the  2  real  stamps  being 
unused),  the  4d.  error.  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  wood-block,  early  Buenos  Ayres  and 
Granada  Confederation,  a  medio  peso  pink  Peru,  and  some  rare  Trinidad  and  San 
Domingo  stamps. 

Collections  were  also  shown  by  Miss  S.  Dalbiac,  Mrs.  M.  C.  Weston,  J.  S.  Soul, 
C.  S.  Dudley,  Mrs.  C.  G.  Kekewich. 

Division  III. 

COLLECTIONS  (not  exceeding  2000  in  number). 

SILVER  MEDAL L.  H.  Walter. 

BRONZE       „ G.  J.  Hynes. 

BRONZE      „  .         .         .         .         .        .  G.  B.  Duerst. 

BRONZE      „  .         .         .         .         .         .  B.  P.  RoDD. 

Walter,  L.  H. — Two  volumes  of  unused  and  used  stamps  of  the  United  States 
of  America,  amongst  which  are  the  10  c.  of  1847  J  1857,  5  c,  10  c,  and  12  c.  (pairs) ; 
1856,  5  c,  red-brown,  and  Types  i,  2,  and  3  of  same  value  ;  a  5  c,  mustard,  of  1867  (all 
being  unused);  a  series  of  the  grilled  issues  of  1868  to  1870,  including  90c.;  the 
issues  of  1872  to  1893,  without  grilling,  on  different  kinds  of  paper;  most  of  the 
official  issues,  both  used  and  unused ;  and  a  series  of  newspaper  and  postage  due 
stamps.  Many  splendid  stamps  were  shown  here,  but  the  system  of  mounting  them 
might  be  improved  upon. 

Hynes,  G.  J. — A  collection  of  Indian  stamps  in  one  volume,  supplementing  the 
exhibit  in  Class  II.,  comprising  the  De  La  Rue  issues,  in  which  are  included  the 
unwatermarked  and  watermarked  series,  also  the  provisional  "  Service "  stamps, 
amongst  which  are  varieties  of  surcharge  on  the  -5-  anna,  the  2  a.,  4  a.,  and  8  a.  (long), 
unused,  and  a  set  of  the  official  imitations,  a  block  of  four  of  the  6  a.  8  p.,  with 
"  Service "  in  the  larger  type.  There  are  also  three  varieties  of  the  Scinde  Dawk 
stamp. 

Duerst,  G.  B. — A  special  collection  of  the  issues  of  Roumania  from  1862  to 
1893,  in  most  cases  used  and  unused,  in  many  shades  and  printings,  including  blocks 
and  strips,  showing  the  small  varieties  on  the  plates  of  the  issues  1869-1872  ;  the 
5  bani,  blue,  error  ;  and  also  the  later  issues  with  compound  and  simple  perforations. 
Although  not  inclusive  of  any  great  rarities,  Mr.  Duerst's  exhibit  worthily  represents 
the  best  class  of  Philatelic  research,  as  it  was  upon  the  lines  of  his  collection  as  shown, 
that  in  conjunction  with  Mr.  W.  D.  Beckton  he  produced  the  article  on  these  stamps 
that  has  lately  appeared  in  the  Philatelic  Journal  of  Great  Britain,  and  in  a  German 
contemporary. 

RoDD,  B.  Plashett. — A  special  collection  of  the  stamps  of  Heligoland,  in  three 
volumes.  The  issues  are  represented  used  and  unused,  the  latter  showing  the  various 
postmarks,  etc.  Many  of  the  used  stamps  on  entires,  and  the  various  envelopes, 
cards,  etc. 

Baynes,  Mrs.  C.  A. — A  special  album  of  the  stamps  of  Greece,  containing  a 
representative  collection  of  all  issues,  used  and  unused,  with  full  sets  of  Paris  and 
Athens  prints,  including  many  of  the  prominent  varieties. 

Although  this  collection  is  not  of  an  extensive  nature,  it  probably  represents  the 
most  consummate  Philatelic  research  ever  shown  by  a  lady  collector,  every  variety, 
however  minute,  being  properly  classified,  and  the  greatest  taste  and  discretion  shown 
in  the  choice  of  copies.  There  can  be  no  doubt  whatever  that  the  display  of  such 
qualities  richly  deserved  the  Silver  Medal  of  His  Royal  Highness. 

Other  exhibits  included  those  of  Mrs.  Badgley,  F.  Donie,  and  C.  Steele-Perkins 
(both  under  sixteen  years  of  age),  Mrs.  M.  Bond,  and  C.  Ulbrich. 
6Tb 


2io  the  london  philatelic  exhibition. 

Special  Awards. 
For  Collections  exhibited  by  Ladies.    Presented  by  H.R.H.  Duke  of  York. 
GOLD  MEDAL    .  .  .     Mrs.  Hetley. 

SILVER      „  .  .  .     Mrs.  Baynes. 

For  Collections  not  exceeding  2000  varieties,  exhibited  in  Albums  of  English 
Manufacture,  by  Collectors  under  sixteen  years  of  age.  Presented  by 
Messrs.  Butler  Bros. 

BRONZE  MEDAL  .  .     C.  Steele-Perkins. 

For  Collections  in  Albums  of  British  Manufacture.     Presented  by 

Stanley  Gibbons,  Ltd. 

{a)  Containing  over  8000  varieties. 

GOLD  MEDAL   .  .  .     H.  L.  Hayman. 

SILVER      „  .  .  .     Mrs.  H.  L.  Hayman. 

ip)  Containing  less  than  8000  varieties. 
SILVER      „         .  .  .     Mrs.  Davidson  of  Tulloch. 

GOLD  MEDAL   .  .  .     F.  Reichenheim. 


CLASS  V. 

Division    L 

entire  envelopes  and  wrappers. 

SILVER  MEDAL  .  .     F.  Ransom  (Germany). 

SILVER         „  J.  R.  Hesketh  (Mulready  Envelopes  and  Letter  Sheets). 

The  display  of  envelopes  was  unfortunately  by  no  means  representative,  and  it  is  to 
be  regretted  that  some  of  the  finer  German  collections  were  not  shown,  as  they  would 
undoubtedly  have  secured  high  prizes. 

Germany  and  States. 

Ransom,  F. — Entire  envelopes  of  the  Empire  and  various  States  of  Germany. 
Most  of  the  earlier  issues  are  represented,  notably  those  of  Thurn  and  Taxis, 
Mecklenburg-Schwerin,  Saxony,  and  Oldenburg.  Also  assortment  of  the  North 
German  provisionals. 

Hesketh,  J.  R.— An  interesting  display,  being  a  collection  in  an  album,  consisting 
of  about  130  varieties  of  the  Mulready  envelopes  and  covers,  unused  and  used, 
arranged  in  order  of  their  plate  numbers,  and  also  two  frames  of  entire  sheets. 
Collections  of  envelopes  were  also  shown  by  W.  C.  Homersham,  J.  Bramah,  and 
F.  L.  van  Dieten,  jun. 

Division  IL 

SILVER  MEDAL  .         B.  Plashett  Rodd  (Australian  Colonies). 

RoDD,  B.  Plashett. — A  collection  in  six  albums  of  the  envelopes  and  wrappers 
of  New  South  Wales,  New  Zealand,  Queensland,  South  Australia,  Tasmania,  Victoria, 
and  Western  Australia.  The  cards,  etc.,  of  the  same  countries  are  also  contained  in 
the  same  books.  New  South  Wales,  1  d.  wrapper  on  wove  and  laid,  entire,  unused  ;  a 
proof,  in  black,  of  the  id.  (De  La  Rue  type)  on  wrapper ;  and  two  used  letter  sheets  of 
1838;  and  South  Au.stralia,  id.  post  card  with  O.S.,  two  specimens. 


THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION.  21 1 


CLASS   VI. 
Division   I. 

POST    CARDS,    Etc. 

SILVER  MEDAL  .  .  .         T.  Ridpath  &  Co. 

BRONZE        „  .  .  '  .         S.  C.  Skipton  and  W.  Brown. 

Ridpath,  T.,  &  Co. — Cards  of  Mexico  shown  in  an  album  containing  most  of  the 
varieties  of  this  country. 

Ridpath,  T.,  &  Co. — Cards  of  Roumania,  several  varieties  of  the  first  issue,  July, 
1873,  on  buff  card,  and  a  specimen  of  the  same,  on  white  card,  June.  The  issue  of 
1877  includes  specimens  of  the  5  c,  brown  on  cream,  and  of  the  reply  card,  on  buff. 
The  later  issue  includes  numerous  shades. 

Skipton,  S.  C,  and  Brown,  W. — The  cards  of  Mexico.  In  this  collection  of 
about  two  hundred  and  fifty  cards  most  of  the  minor  varieties  were  shown,  as  well 
as  errors,  including  the  issue  of  March,  1882,  without  stamp,  etc.,  and  the  1890  letter 
card,  IOC,  on  white. 

Division  II. 
SILVER  MEDAL   .         .         .         .         •     B.  Plashett  Rodd. 
BRONZE       „ R.  Meyer. 

Rodd,  B.  Plashett. — Cards  of  New  South  Wales,  New  Zealand,  Queensland, 
South  Australia,  Tasmania,  Victoria,  and  Western  Australia. 

Meyer,  R. — This  exhibit  included  the  provisional  cards  3  c,  yellow,  and  5  c,  lilac, 
on  blue,  of  Hongkong ;  the  provisional  2  c,  red  surcharge,  of  the  Straits  Settlements ; 
the  two  first-issued  cards  of  Grenada,  and  a  number  of  other  West  Indian  countries. 

Ridpath,  T.,  &  Co. — Five  albums,  containing  the  cards  of  Ceylon,  Queensland, 
Victoria,  Belgium,  Servia  and  Spain.  Among  the  Ceylon  cards  issued  in  1880  should 
be  mentioned  the  8  c.  surcharged  "  via  Marseilles,"  in  two  types  ;  the  error  "  Ceylon  "  ; 
and  the  12  c,  '■'■via  Brindisi,"  with  the  like  error. 

Skipton,  S.  C,  and  Brown,  W. — A  general  exhibit,  containing  many  specimens 
from  all  countries. 

Ellis,  Douglas. — Cards  of  Great  Britain,  Malta,  Cyprus,  etc. 


CLASS  vn. 

exhibits  by  stamp  engravers  and  manufacturers  of  postage 
stamps  and  telegraph  stamps. 

GOLD  MEDAL  .        .         .  Perkins,  Bacon  &  Co.,  Limited. 

SILVER      „  ...  Thos.  De  La  Rue  &  Co.,  Limited. 

SILVER      ,,  ...  Waterlow  &  Sons,  Limited. 

SILVER      „  ...  Bradbury,  Wilkinson  &  Co.,  Limited. 

Perkins,  Bacon  &  Co.,  Limited. — Two  original  water-colour  drawings  of  the 
Queen's  head,  the  larger  of  the  two  being  that  used  for  the  stamps  of  Ceylon, 
and  the  other  that  for  the  stamps  of  Natal,  etc.,  and  an  original  drawing  of  the 
design  for  the  5s.,  New  South  Wales  stamp.  A  frame  containing  an  entire  sheet 
of  the  id.,  Great  Britain  (1855),  printed  in  black,  being  the  one-millionth  impression 
taken  from  the  plate.  One  frame  of  proofs,  in  black,  of  various  Colonial  stamps. 
Cards  of  proofs  in  black  and  sundry  colour  trials  of  various  English  and  Colonial 
stamps  printed  by  the  firm,  including  a  proof  in  black  from  the  original  die  of 
the  id.  stamp,  engraved  by  Mr.  Frederick  Heath,  March,  1840.  The  original 
steel  plate  of  the  is.,  first  issue,  of  Newfoundland  stamps,  the  original  engraved  die 


212  THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION. 

from  which  the  plates  were  constructed,  and  the  steel  plate  of  the  2  reales  Pacific 
Steam  Navigation  Company's  stamps.  The  first  perforating  machine  used  for  the 
perforation  of  stamps.  This  machine  was  worked  by  hand,  a  system  which  was 
soon  superseded  by  steam  machinery.  Original  letter  from  Sir  Rowland  Hill  to 
the  late  Mr.  Bacon,  dated  1840,  stating  that  the  Queen  approved  of  the  design 
for  the  first  postage  stamp.  A  frame  containing  a  letter,  dated  August  26th,  1856, 
from  the  Tasmanian  Government  with  sketches  of  6d.  and  is.  stamps,  and 
specimens  of  the  id.,  2d.,  and  4d.  stamps  of  the  colony  printed  by  the  firm.  Also 
a  letter,  dated  November  nth,  1854,  from  the  Inland  Revenue,  Somerset  House, 
approving  of  the  retouched  steel  die  for  the  id.  stamp  of  Great  Britain.  A  similar 
frame  containing  a  memorandum  from  Mr.  R.  P.  Raymond,  Inspector  of  Stamps, 
New  South  Wales,  and  an  estimate  for  id.  and  3d.  stamps,  with  specimens  of  these 
values  of  the  "  Laureated  series"  attached.  Memorandum  dated  December  31st, 
1858,  as  to  the  gumming  of  French  postage  stamps. 

Thomas  De  La  Rue  &  Co.,  Limited. — Fourteen  frames  of  stamps  prepared 
by  the  exhibitors,  containing  entire  sheets  of  some  of  the  postage  stamps  of  Great 
Britain;  sheets  of  several  values  of  the  Indian  stamps;  a  sheet  of  is.  Hospital 
stamps,  printed  in  the  presence  of  H.R.H.  the  Prince  of  Wales  and  signed  by  him, 
and  a  sheet  of  the  2s.  6d.  value  of  the  same ;  six  values,  is.  to  ^^5,  of  the  stamps 
of  the  Tati  Concessions,  Limited ;  and  complete  sets  of  Zanzibar  and  new  Tonga 
stamps ;  also  a  frame  of  plate  and  die  proofs  of  stamps  manufactured  by  the 
exhibitors ;  a  frame  containing  a  number  of  water-colour  drawings  of  designs  for 
stamps  is  also  shown. 

Waterlow  &  Sons,  Limited.  —  Two  large  frames  containing  specimens  of 
the  work  of  the  exhibitors  in  the  postage,  telegraph,  and  other  stamps  of  various 
countries,  including:  Niger  Coast,  1894  issue;  Uruguay,  1889,  1893,  and  1895; 
Siam,  Indore,  Liberia,  Congo,  North  Borneo,  Sirmoor,  Costa  Rica,  Nicaragua, 
Peru,  etc. 

Bradbury,  Wilkinson,  &  Co.,  Limited. — A  frame  containing  chiefly  proofs 
of  original  dies  and  stamps  and  essays  produced  by  the  exhibitors,  comprising 
amongst  others:  Deccan,  1870  issue,  seven  values;  Spain,  1876,  nine  values; 
Formosa;  Queensland,  1882,  five  values;  Argentine  Republic,  1882;  British  South 
Africa,  two ;  British  East  Africa,  four  values  and  essay ;  Chili  Telegraphs,  five 
values;  Pernambuco,  five  values;  Bolivia,  1893,  seven  values;  Tromso  by-post; 
Mexico,  essay  plate  of  ninety-six  stamps ;  and  sundry  other  essays. 


CLASS  vin. 

FOR  PHILATELIC  LITERATURE  AND  WORKS. 

Division  I. 

CURRENT  PHILATELIC  JOURNALS. 

SILVER  MEDAL  .  .     Buhl  &  Co.,  Limited. 

SILVER        ,.  .     Stanley  Gibbons,  Limited. 

BRONZE      „  .  .     W.  Brown. 

Buhl  &  Co.,  Limited. — Tlie  Philatelic  Record  and  Stamp  News. 

Stanley  Gibbons,  Limited. —  The  Mojithly  Journal. 

Brown,  W. — Tlie  Philatelic  Journal  of  Great  Britain. 

Gill,  L.  Upcott. — The  Philatelists'  Supplement  to  The  Bazaar.  Scott  Stamp 
AND  Coin  Company,  Limited. — The  American  Journal  of  Philately.  *Philatelic 
Society,  London,  The. — The  London  Philatelist,  the  journal  of  the  Society. 
Huehn,  P.utl  a  ,  and  De  Billido,  R. — O  Colkccionador  de  Sellos. — Kr5tzsch,  H. 
— Deutsche  Briefniarken-Zeitung.  Ewen,  L.  L' Estrange. — The  English  Specialists' 
Journal.  Durani,  Vittorio  &  Co. — San  Marino  Corriere  dsi  Franco-bolli.  La 
SociEDAD  Filatelica  ARGENTINA. — Revista  de  la  Sociedad  Filatelica  Argentina. 
Bruck,  Alph. — Revista  Filatelica  de  Brazil. 


THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION.  ±13 

Division    II. 

PHILATELIC  WORKS  PUBLISHED  SINCE  31st  OCTOBER,  1890. 

SILVER  MEDAL  .     Dr.  Emilio  Diena. 

SILVER       ,,  .     Hugo  Krotzsch  (for  the  first  and  third  items 

in  Exhibit  223). 
BRONZE     „  .     L.  Upcott  Gill. 

BRONZE     „  .     Scott  Stamp  and  Coin  Co.,  Limited  (for  items 

I  to  5  in  Exhibit  211). 
BRONZE     „  .     V.  Suppantschitsch. 

THE  PHILATELIC  SOCIETY'S  MEDALS  AWARDED  TO  AUTHORS 
OF  WORKS  IN  THIS  CLASS. 

SILVER  MEDAL         .  .  .     E.  D.  Bacon. 

SILVER       „  .  .  .     F.  H.  Napier. 

Diena,  Dr.  Emilio. — I  FrancoboUi  del  Ducate  d' Modena  (1894). 

Krotzsch,  Hugo. — Handlnuh  dcr  Postfreimarkenkunde,  comprising  seven  volumes 
on  the  Stamps  of  the  German  Empire  and  States,  and  one  vokmie  on  the  Stamps 
of  Russia.  Illustrierter  misfilhrlicher  Katalog  iiber  deufsche  Postfreimarke}i.  Die 
Brief iitnsch/dge  der  deuischen  Staatcn.  In  two  volumes.  By  C.  Lindenberg.  The 
same  in  twelve  separate  parts.  Die  Briefinarken  von  Baden.  By  C.  Lindenberg. 
Die  Postwertzeicheti  Spatiiens  und  seiner  Kolonien.     By  Rudolf  Friederich. 

Gill,  L.  Upcott. — Postage  Stamps  and  their  Collectors.  By  Oliver  Firth.  The 
Adhesive  Postage  Stamps  of  Europe.     By  AV.  A.  S.  Westoby. 

Scott  Stamp  and  Coin  Co.,  Limited. — Catalogue  for  Advanced  Collectors,  Part 
I  to  II.  The  Stamps  of  Mexico.  The  Revenues  of  the  United  States.  Russian 
Rural  Stamps.  The  Envelopes,  etc.,  of  the  United  States.  Postage  Stamp  Catalogue, 
57th  Edition. 

Suppantschitsch,  Victor. — Bibliographie  der  deutscher  Philatelistischen  Literaiur. 

Stanley  Gibbons,  Limited. — Stanley  Gibbons'  Priced  Catalogue,  1897  Edition. 
Stanley  Gibbons''  Philatelic  Handbook  of  Portuguese  India.  By  Gilbert  Harrison  and 
F.  H.  Napier.  Stanley  Gibbons^  Philatelic  Hatidbook  of  South  Australia.  By  F.  H. 
Napier  and  Gordon  Smith.  Stanley  Gibbons'  Philatelic  Handbook  of  Shanghai.  By 
\\.  B.  Thornhill.  Stanley  Gibbons'  Philatelic  Handbook  of  St.  Vincent.  By  F.  H. 
Napier  and  E.  D.  Bacon.  Stanley  GibboJis'  Philatelic  Handbook  of  Barbados.  By 
E.  D.  Bacon  and  F.  H.  Napier.  Stamps  and  Stamp  Collecting.  By  Major  E.  B. 
Evans.  Album  Weeds ;  or,  Ho7v  to  Detect  Forged  Stamps.  By  the  Rev.  R.  B. 
Earee.  The  Alulready  Etivelope  and  its  Caricatures.  By  Major  E.  B.  Evans. 
Postage  Stamps  of  the  British  Empire,  with  Notes.  By  H.  Mackwood  Millington  and 
Gilbert  Lockyer. 

Ewen,  H.  L'Estrange. — Catalogue  of  British  Stamps.     Editions  i  to  5. 

Hinton,  T.  H. — Hints  on  Stamp  Collecting ;  an  A  B  C  of  Philately. 

Brown,  William. — The  Stamps  of  the  Malay  States  of  the  Straits  Settle?nents, 
illustrated  with  autotypes  and  a  number  of  entire  panes. 

MORLEY,    W. — Handbook   of  Revenue    Stamps    of   Great   Britain    and   Ireland. 
Catalogue  of  Great  Britain   (1895)  Postage  and  Revemce  Stamps,  etc.      Catalogue  of 
Great  Britain  (1896)  Postage  aiui  Revenue  Stamps,  etc.     Catalogue  of  Colonial  Revenue 
Stamps. 

Bright  &  Son. — The  ABC  Descriptive  Priced  Catalogue  of  the  World's  Postage 
Stamps. 

Melillo,  Enrico. — La  Posta  nei  Secoli.     Le  Poste  nel  Mezzogiorno  d' Italia. 

DiECKMANN,  Carl. — Postgeschichte  deutscher  Staaten  seit  einein  halben  Jahrtausend. 

Le  Gros,  Eugene. — Les  Timbres  for  Ever  I  and  Une  Errcur  de  Daudet. 


214 


THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION. 


*Mah]£,  p. — Le  QuestioJtneiir  Timbrophilique. 

Hall,  W.  I.—Hoiv  to  Deal  in  Foreign  Stamps. 

*Philatelic  Society,  London,  The. — The  Stamps  of  Tasmania.  By  A.  F. 
Bassett  Hull.  The  Stamps  of  the  British  Colonies  in  the  West  Ttidies,  with  British 
Honduras  and  the  Colonies  in  South  America.  The  Stamps  of  British  Tndia  and 
Ceylon.  Supplement  to  same.  By  J.  A.  Tilleard.  The  Stamps  of  the  British 
Colonies,  etc.,  in  South  Africa.     Part  I. 

DuPiNO,  GiACOMO. — Italian  Philatelic  Literature. 

GussoNi,  GiovANNL — Italian  Philatelic  Literature. 


CLASS    IX. 


ALBUMS. 
Division   I. 

ALBUMS   FOR  SPECIAL  COLLECTIONS. 


BRONZE 
BRONZE 


MEDAL 


H.    L'ESTRANGE   EWEN. 

W.  Brown. 


EwEN,  H.  L'EsTRANGE.— An  Album  for  British  Stamps  (ist  Edition,  1896). 

Brown,  \\hiAA\^\.—The  British  Empire  Postage  Stamp  Album.  By  S.  C.  Skipton. 
(For  British  Empire  Adhesives  only.)     In  Two  Volumes. 

Matthew,  R.— A  Collection  of  the  Stamps  of  France,  specially  ruled  up  for 
spaces  for  stamps  on  the  right-hand  side,  and  a  list  of  varieties  intended  to  be  shown 
on  the  left-hand  side. 

Bruck,  Alph.— a  Special  Album  for  the  Stamps  of  Brazil  in  Portuguese. 


Division  II. 

ALBUMS  FOR  GENERAL  COLLECTIONS. 


BRONZE  MEDAL 

BRONZE 

BRONZE 

BRONZE 

BRONZE 

BRONZE 

BRONZE 

BRONZE 

BRONZE 


Scott  Stamp  and  Coin  Co.,  Limited. 

R.  W.  Stevens. 

Stanley  Gibbons,  Limited. 

Dr.  Emilio  Diena. 

Whitfield  King  &  Co. 

C.  F.  LOcKE. 

Hugo  Krotzsch. 

W.  S.  Lincoln. 

W.  T.  Wilson. 


Scott  Stamp  and  Coin  Company,  Limited. — Tnterfiational  Postage  Stamp 
Albutn  ;  do.  (abridged  edition).      The  Nonpareil  Improved  Album. 

Stevens,  R.  W. — The  Desideratum  Philatelic  Albums  with  moveable  leaves. 

Stanley  Gibbons,  Limited.— The  Imperial  Albums.  The  Strand  Albums.  The 
Improved  Albums. 

Diena,  Dr.  Emilio. — An  Album  with  Interchangeable  Leaves  (New  System). 

King,  Whitfield,  &  Co. — The  Interchangeable  Albums. 

LiJCKE,  C.  F. — Various  Albums.  Senfs  Illustrated  Postage  Stamp  Albums  in  the 
Imperial,  Permanent,  Large  Fancy,  Large  Amateur,  and  Netv  Medium  Editions.  New 
(8th)  Edition  for  1898.  The  Victoria  Edition  of  Schaubek's  Postage  Stamp  Albums, 
in  a  large  variety  of  styles  and  bindings,  etc.,  and  albums  for  all  countries  in  French, 
Spanish,  and  Italian. 

Krotzsch,  Hugo. — Permanent  Album  in  box.  Box  for  ditto  in  book  form.  Self- 
binding  Covers  for  Album  Sheets. 


THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION. 


215 


Lincoln,  William  S. — The  Lincobi  Stamp  Album  and  Catalogue.  The  One 
Shilling  Lincobi  Stamp  Album.  The  Luicoln  Postage  Stamp  Album,  oblong  edition  and 
fourth  edition,  illustrated.     Album  for  Postage,  Revenue,  and  Duplicate  Stamps,  etc. 

HiNTON,  T.  H. — The  Quee?i  Postage  Stamp  Album.  The  Empire  Postage  Stamp 
Album. 

Wood,  T.  W.  &  Co.— The  Mammoth  Album. 
Butler  Brothers. — Excelsior  Stamp  Albums. 
Buhl  &  Co.,  Limited. — Albums  with  Moveable  Leaves. 
Wilson,  W.  T. — Albums  with  Moveable  Leaves. 

Division  IIL — No  Award. 

BOOKS,    METHODS,    OR   SYSTEMS   FOR   ENVELOPES,   WRAPPERS, 

CARDS,    Etc. 

Phillips,  Mrs.  L. — Volume  containing  "  Entires,"  showing  the  Method  employed. 
LucKE,  C.  F. — Various  Albums  for  Post  Cards  and  "  Entires,"  and  nine  Albums 
for  Post  Cards. 

Lincoln,  William  S. — The  Lincoln  Post  Card  Album  in  various  sizes. 

CLASS   X. 
ACCESSORIES  AND  APPLIANCES   FOR  USE  BY  COLLECTORS. 


BRONZE  MEDAL 
BRONZE 


Stanley  Gibbons,  Limited. 
Hugo  Krotszch. 


This  class  includes  the  sundry  appliances  required  by  collectors,  and  exhibits 
including  notably  various  forms  of  stamp  mounts  were  shown. 

Stanley  Gibbons,  Limited. — Maps,  Magnifying  Glasses,  Surcharge  Measures, 
Philatelic  Tile  for  examining  Watermarks,  Perforation  Gauge,  Tweezers,  and  Dupli- 
cate Books. 

Krotzsch,  Hugo. — The  "  Exact  "  Perforation  Gauge,  Presser,  Tweezers,  Duplicate 
Books,  Transparent  Envelopes,  Stamp  Mounts,  and  various  other  appliances. 

Lincoln,  William  S. —  Stamp  Pocket  Book,  Perforation  Gauges,  Hinges,  Mag- 
nifiers, Special  Mount  for  Hospital  Stamps,  etc.  Meyer,  Dr.  L.  F. — "  Godets 
Philateliques,"  for  soaking  off  stamps,  finding  watermarks,  and  measuring  perforations  ; 
and  "  Filogramoscopes,"  for  showing  watermarks  in  "  entires,"  etc.  Butler 
Brothers. — "Excelsior"  Stamp  Mounts.  Brown,  William. — "Ideal"  Stamp 
Mounts,  Perforation  Gauge,  and  Approval  Sheets.  King,  Whitfield,  &  Co. — 
"B"  Quality  Stamp  Mounts.  Graf-Krusi. — Stamp  Mounts.  Benham,  Dr.  F. 
Lucas. — A  new  form  of  Perforation  Gauge,  designed  by  the  exhibitor.  Hall,  W.  J. 
— Duplicate  or  Stock  Books. 

CLASS   XL 


GENERAL  OBJECTS  OF   PHILATELIC   INTEREST, 
ARRANGEMENTS  OF  STAMPS,    Etc.    Etc. 


SPECIAL 


SILVER  MEDAL 
SILVER 

BRONZE  „ 

BRONZE  „ 

BRONZE  „ 

BRONZE  „ 

BRONZE  „ 


J.  R.  F.  Turner. 

W.  MORLEY. 

S.  C.  Skipton  and  W.  Brown. 

H.  J.  White. 

C.  F.  Dendy  Marshall. 

W.  RUTLEY. 

F.  C.  Smith. 


The  exhibits  in  this  class  included  the  following,  and  many  others  of  interest, 
of  which  the  names  of  exhibitors  only  can  be  given. 

Turner,  J.  R.  F. — A  collection  of  the  Oxford  and  Cambridge  College  stamps, 
envelopes  and  cards. 


2i6  THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION. 

MoRLEY,  W. — A  collection  of  telegraph  stamps  of  Austria,  Belgium,  Bavaria, 
Ceylon,  Hungary,  Jamaica,  Spain,  and  other  countries,  principally  cancelled.  A  very 
fine  lot,  and  worthy  in  every  way  of  its  recompense. 

White,  H.  J. — A  collection  of  5s.  stamps  of  the  British  Empire,  and  a  few  of 
other  countries.  It  commences  with  those  of  Great  Britain,  and  includes  blocks  of 
British  Central  Africa  and  British  South  Africa,  Cape  of  Good  Hope  and  Griqualand, 
and  all  other  British  Colonies  which  have  issued  this  value,  as  well  as  those  of  the 
New  Republic,  Swazieland,  Samoa,  and  Orange  Free  State.  Those  of  the  Australian 
Colonies,  in  all  varieties  of  shade,  watermark,  and  perforation,  as  well  as  officials. 
There  are  very  few  used  specimens,  and  many  of  the  unused,  in  pairs  and  blocks. 

Smith,  F.  C. — Metal  bits  for  making  watermarks  in  paper,  prepared  by  the 
exhibitor  at  different  periods  since  the  invention  by  his  father  of  the  method  of 
production.  Amongst  them  will  be  noticed  the  old  "Garter,"  used  for  watermarks  in 
some  of  the  early  stamps  of  Great  Britain ;  as  well  as  the  "  Heraldic  Flowers,"  the 
"  Crown,"  and  some  of  the  designs  for  fiscal  stamps ;  the  "  Crown  and  CC  "  of  various 
colonies,  the  "  SA  and  Crown,"  "  Q  and  Crown,"  the  "  Pineapple  "  of  Jamaica,  etc., 
etc. 

RuTLEY,  William — Postman's  Bell,  formerly  rung  in  the  streets  for  the  collection 
of  letters.  A  small  case  containing  Medal  struck  on  the  Queen's  visit  to  the  City  in 
1837  by  William  Wyon — Her  Majesty's  profile  thereon  being  that  chosen  for  the 
original  Postage  Stamp.  Franks  of  Postal  Reformers— Josh.  Hume,  Robert  Wallace, 
Henry  Warburton.  Four  framed  large  caricatures  of  the  Mulready  Envelope  by 
Leech  (plain  and  coloured),  John  Doyle,  and  Henry  Heath.  Seven  sheets  containing 
thirty  smaller  ditto,  and  facsimile  of  Thackeray's  caricature,  etc.,  etc. 

Marshall,  C.  F.  Dendy. — Twenty-one  frames  containing  reconstructed  sheets  of 
used  stamps  of  Great  Britain  of  different  values  from  id.  to  5s. 

*  Evans,  Major  E.  B. — This  tasteful  collection  of  the  Mulready  Envelope  and  its 
caricatures  was  shown  on  the  revolving  screen  in  the  Central  Gallery,  and  formed,  in 
the  eyes  of  many  of  the  Philatelic  visitors,  one  of  the  greatest  attractions  of  the 
Exhibition.  Major  Evans  is  to  be  congratulated  upon  having  gathered  together  an 
apparently  complete  series  of  these  now  historical  sketches,  which  it  is  to  be  hoped 
may  never  be  broken  up.  Collection  of  Mulready  Envelopes,  etc.,  illustrative  of  the 
introduction  of  cheap  postage,  including :  Essays  (a  sheet  of  eight).  Proofs  on  India 
paper,  etc.  Official  circular,  dated  April,  1840.  Specimens  of  the  covers  and 
envelopes  as  issued  in  May,  1840,  including  an  unsevered  pair  of  the  id.  covers, 
a  strip  of  three,  and  a  block  of  four  of  the  id.  envelopes,  and  a  pair  of  the  2d. 
envelopes.  Imitations  and  adaptations  of  Mulready's  design.  Caricatures  of  the 
design,  by  John  Leech,  "Phiz"  (H.  K.  Browne),  "  H.  B."  (John  Doyle),  "  H.  H." 
(Henry  Heath),  and  others.  Sets  of  caricature  envelopes,  published  by  W.  Spooner, 
Southgate,  etc.  Punch's  Anti-Graham  envelopes  and  wafers,  published  in  1844  (the 
envelope  was  drawn  by  Leech).  Comic  envelopes  drawn  by  Richard  Doyle  and  his 
brother  James  in  1840  (Doyle  was  at  that  date  a  boy  of  fifteen,  and  these  are  almost 
his  earliest  published  works).  Various  other  comic  illustrated  envelopes.  A  collection 
of  illustrated  envelopes,  published  about  1850  to  1854,  advocating  Universal  Penny 
Postage ;  Abolition  of  Slavery ;  Peace  and  Arbitration ;  Free  Trade ;  Temperance, 
etc. 

Lincoln,  William  S. — A  large  exhibit  of  considerable  interest.  Fifteen  frames 
containing  stamps  of  various  countries,  many  of  them  in  sheets,  blocks,  strips, 
etc.,  and  mostly  unused.  Many  interesting  stamps  will  be  found  in  these  frames, 
notably  several  issues  of  Great  Britain,  New  Zealand,  Bremen,  South  Australia,  Egypt, 
France,  Schleswig-Holstein,  St.  Vincent,  St.  Lucia,  ^Vestern  Australia,  Newfoundland, 
Transvaal  (including  a  sheet  of  id.,  in  black,  on  6d.),  etc. 

*The  Philatelic  Society,  London. — Original  dies  of  the  id.,  2d.,  3d.,  and 
gd.,  and  of  the  i  c,  3  c.,  4  c.,  and  6  c.  of  the  stamps  of  Prince  Edward  Island,  to- 
gether with  the  electrotype  plates  of  the  2d.,  4d.,  3  c.,  and  12  c.  The  original 
engraved  plate  of  the  head  employed  for  the  pence  issue,  and  an  engraving  on  wood, 
with  a  reproduction  on  copper,  of  the  head  used  for  the  cents  issue.  The  original 
die  of  an  unused  design.     Proofs  in  black  from  all  the  above-mentioned  dies  and 


THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION.  217 

plates.  Two  dies  of  the  first  essay  (lion  and  palm  tree)  for  the  \  anna  stamp  of 
India.  A  series  of  cancellation  stamps,  of  which  impressions  of  design  are  shown, 
submitted  for  approval  to  the  Treasury  by  Mr.  Whiting,  in  1839,  with  some  explana- 
tory notes  by  Mr.  Whiting,  and  an  autographed  memorandum  of  Sir  Rowland  Hill 
returning  the  stamps.  Two  framed  sheets  of  the  4  a.  stamp  of  India,  1854,  reprinted 
on  the  original  watermarked  paper.  Album  containing  reprinted  sheets  of  the  id. 
and  4d.,  both  plates,  in  colour,  and  of  plate  2  of  the  4d.,  in  black,  of  the  first  issue 
of  Tasmania. 

*H.R.H.  THE  Duke  of  York,  K.G. — Two  silver-point  sketches  for  the  ^a.  and 
I  a.  stamps  of  India,  originally  proposed  to  be  employed,  and  a  few  essays  of  other 
proposed  Indian  stamps.  The  designs  of  the  Queen's  head  for  the  current  2  r.,  3r., 
and  5  r.  stamps,  and  for  the  current  wrappers  of  India.  A  series  of  thirty  colour  trials  of 
the  2r.,  3r.,  and  5  r.  values.  An  envelope  dated  in  1841  addressed  in  the  handwriting 
of  the  great  Duke  of  Wellington.  Two  coloured  sketches  for  the  first  id.  and  2d. 
stamps  of  Great  Britain,  as  submitted  to  the  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer,  and 
colour  trials  of  the  same  values  submitted  to  him  September  i,  1840.  An  original 
sheet  of  "Beaufort  House"  essays  for  Great  Britain  stamps,  by  C.  Whiting.  The 
"Silvier"  design,  with  printed  description,  etc.,  of  stamp  proposed.  Two  proposals 
for  stamped  covers  of  letter-sheets :  the  one  without  stamp  was  submitted  to  the 
Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer  May  14,  1S40,  as  a  suggestion  in  lieu  of  the  Mulready 
cover,  "to  allow  of  greater  space  for  the  address  by  introducing  the  red  ['  Dickenson'] 
threads  across  the  face,  the  latter  would  serve  as  lines  for  writing  on — no  trifling 
matter  to  many  writers."  A  small  selection  of  stamps  not  usually  found  imperforate, 
including  Malta,  4d.,  CA,  pair;  British  Bechuanaland,  ^i  and  ^5,  lilac;  Mauritius, 
De  La  Rue  type,  no  watermark,  in  pairs,  and  also  watermark  Cr.  CC;  St.  Helena, 
Cr.  CC;  Ceylon,  ditto;  Hongkong,  ditto;  Bahamas,  Bermuda,  British  Honduras, 
Jamaica,  Pineapple  and  Cr.  C  C ;  St.  Lucia ;  Tobago ;  Western  Australia,  Swan 
watermark,  the  five  values  usually  perforated,  in  pairs. 

Other  exhibits  in  this  class  included  those  of  A.  Maury,  Gordon  Smith,  F.  West, 
G.  Mackey,  Miss  Preston,  W.  C.  Homersham,  A.  Monnier,  A.  Reyler,  A.  Joessel, 
E.  H.  Selby,  Miss  P.  Aganoor,  Miss  S.  A.  Blackburne,  L.  Gibb,  J.  R.  Henderson, 
Messrs.  Bartlett  and  King,  S.  C.  Skipton  and  W  Brown,  Robt.  Lyon,  The  Fiscal 
Stamp  Exchange  Club,  J.  H.  Daniels,  G.  Gaffe,  Col.  Badgeley,  W.  J.  England, 
J.  P.  Way,  H.  Le  Bas,  T.  H.  Hinton,  Miss  Evans,  W.  Bradley. 

GOVERNMENT  AND   OFFICIAL   EXHIBITS. 

Her  M.\jesty's  Commissioners  of  Inland  Revenue. — A  series  of  impressions 
from  all  the  plates  from  which  the  postage  stamps  of  Great  Britain  have  been  printed, 
as  registered  and  preserved  at  Somerset  House,  inclusive  of  the  Fiscal  stamps 
available  for  postage. 

Her  Majesty's  Postmaster-General. — Stamps,  chiefly  of  the  British  Colonies, 
arranged  in  various  designs,  and  comprising  :  Newfoundland,  Bahamas,  and  Bermuda  ; 
Great  Britain;  Canada;  Orange  Free  States,  Sierra  Leone,  Gambia,  and  Cape  of 
Good  Hope;  Straits  Settlements  and  Cyprus;  Ceylon;  West  Indies;  East  Indies; 
India;  Lagos;  Malta;  Western  Australia;  British  Guiana;  India  and  States; 
Tasmania  and  New  Zealand.  A  proof  sheet  of  the  id.  (black)  stamp  without  letters. 
A  framed  painting  of  a  London  postman,  1830,  from  the  sketch  by  Welch.  The 
Lofidon  Directory,  1836.  The  first  postal  guide.  Printed  notice  of  25th  April,  1840, 
sent  to  postmasters  as  to  obliteration  of  stamps.  Similar  notice  of  29th  April,  1840, 
sending  specimens  of  stamps  to  postmasters.  Another  notice  of  7th  May,  1840, 
sending  specimen  of  the  V.R.  stamp.  A  notice  of  the  same  date  in  reference  to  the 
placing  of  stamps  on  covers.  Notice  dated  June,  1840,  in  reference  to  the  "Mul- 
ready "  covers  and  envelopes,  stating  that  the  covers  only  are  to  be  sold,  the 
envelopes  not  being  supplied  by  the  Post  Office.  Notices  of  rewards  for  mail 
robberies.  A  mail  bag  stolen  from  the  Selby  and  York  post-boy  in  1798,  and  found 
in  the  roof  of  an  old  house  on  its  demolition  in  1876.  Obliterating  machine  in  use 
at  Manchester  prior  to  the  introduction  of  the  "Pearson  Hill"  machine  in  1867. 
Books  of  curious  addresses  on  letters  sent  through  the  post  and  deciphered  by 
Post  Office  officials. 
673* 


2i8  THE  LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION. 

By  the  kind  permission  of  the  Postmaster-General  an  officer  from  the  General 
Post  Office  was  in  attendance  to  show  and  explain  these  books  to  visitors  to  the 
Exhibition. 

The  Secretary  of  State  for  India —Sets  of  Postage,  Service  Postage, 
Revenue,  Telegraphs,  Special  Adhesive  Share  Transfer,  Foreign  Bill,  and  Court 
Fee  Stamps  of  India. 

The  Agent-General  for  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.— An  exhibit  of  recent 
issues  of  Postage  Stamps.  Card  of  Wrappers  of  the  Colony  of  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope. 

The  Agent-General  for  New  Zealand.— Specimens  of  some  of  the  issues  of 
this  Colony. 

The  Crown-Agents  for  the  Colonies— Stamps  printed  by  Messrs.  De  La 
Rue  &  Co.,  comprising:  i.  Issues  of  British  Guiana,  British  Honduras,  and 
Barbados.  2.  Ceylon,  Hongkong,  and  St.  Helena.  3.  Straits  Settlements  and  States. 
4.  British  Central  Africa  and  British  East  Africa  Protectorates.  5.  Gibraltar,  Malta, 
Mauritius,  and  Seychelles.  6.  Grenada,  Turks  Islands,  and  St.  Lucia.  7.  Lagos, 
Gold  Coast,  Gambia,  and  Sierra  Leone- stamps  and  cards.  8.  Natal  Postage, 
Revenue,  and  Telegraph  Stamps,  Cards,  and  Wrappers. 

The  High  Commissioner  for  Can.ada.— A  single  volume  containing  specimens 
of  Canadian  Postage  Stamps. 

The  Council  of  the  Prince  of  Wales's  Hospital  Fund  for  London.— A 
copy  of  each  value  of  the  stamps  as  issued.  The  three  original  plates  from  which  the 
stamps  were  printed,  as  defaced  in  the  presence  of  H.R.H.  the  Duke  of  York.  The 
two  steel  dies  from  which  the  plates  were  made  and  the  matrix  from  which  the  surface 
of  the  design  was  obliterated.  One  of  the  files  (weighing  16  lbs.)  used  in  defacing  the 
plates.  The  original  certificate  of  destruction  signed  by  their  Royal  Highnesses  the 
Duke  and  Duchess  of  York  and  others.  A  sketch  of  the  ceremony  of  destruction 
made  by  the  artist  of  the  Daily  Graphic. 

Special  Awards. 

For  Exhibits  in  any  Class  by  Members  of  the  Manchester  Philatelic 
Society.    Presented  by  W.  Doming  Beckton,  Esq. 

SILVER  MEDAL  .  .  .     G.  B.  Duerst. 

BRONZE         „  .      .  .  .     Vernon  Roberts. 

The  judges  found  themselves  unable  to  award  certain  of  the  Special  Medals. 


[        219        ] 


ff  j)c  prince  of  Maks's  p0S)^ttal  Jfunb  for  ITonboiT. 

VISIT  OF  T.R.H.  THE  DUKE  AND  DUCHESS  OF  YORK 
TO  THE  BANK  OF  ENGLAND. 


HIS  afternoon  (Friday,  July  gth),  soon  after  one  o'clock,  their 
Royal  Highnesses  the  Duke  and  Duchess  of  York  visited  the 
j[|  Bank  of  England  to  witness  the  destruction  of  the  plates 
from  which  the  stamps  issued  for  the  benefit  of  the  Prince  of 
Wales's  Hospital  Fund  were  printed.  It  will  no  doubt  be 
»  remembered  that  as  soon  as  the  printing  of  the  stamps  was 
completed,  the  plates  were  consigned  to  the  strong-rooms  of  the  Bank,  under 
the  official  seals  of  the  Governor  and  Chief  Cashier,  which  were  affixed  in 
the  presence  of  several  of  the  Honorary  Officials  of  the  Fund,  until  a 
convenient  opportunity  presented  itself  for  their  destruction.  At  this 
function  H.R.H.  the  Duke  of  York,,  who  as  President  of  the  London 
Philatelic  Society  takes  a  great  interest  in  the  matter,  graciously  signified 
his  willingness  to  be  present. 

Their  Royal  Highnesses,  who  were  attended  by  Sir  Charles  Cust  and 
Lady  Mary  Lygon,  on  arrival  at  the  Lothbury  entrance,  were  received  by 
the  Governor,  Mr.  Hugh  Colin  Smith;  the  Deputy-Governor,  Mr.  S.  Steuart 
Gladstone  ;  the  Chief  Cashier,  Mr.  H.  G.  Bovven  ;  and  the  Acting  Secretary, 
Mr.  Kenneth  Grahame,  of  the  Bank  of  England  ;  and  also  by  the  following 
members  of  the  Organising  Committee  of  the  Prince  of  Wales's  Hospital 
Fund  :  Lord  Rothschild,  Lord  Rowton,  Sir  Henry  Burdett,  K.C.B.,  the  Right 
Hon.  C.  Stuart  Wortley,  Q.C,  M.P.,  Sir  Savile  Crossley,  and  Mr.  J.  G.  Craggs. 

There  were  also  present  Mr.  J.  S.  Purcell,  C.B.,  Controller  of  Stamps  at 
Somerset  House ;  Mr.  Thomas  De  la  Rue,  of  Messrs.  De  la  Rue  &  Co.,  who 
carried  out  the  printing  of  the  stamps,  and  who  so  kindly  prepared  the 
design,  engraved  the  plates,  and  presented  them  to  tlie  Fund  free  of 
charge;  Mr.  G.  H.  Miles  and  Mr.  Joseph  Shaylor,  of  Messrs.  Simpkin, 
Marshall  &  Co.,  the  wholesale  distributors  of  the  stamps,  whose  task  in 
dealing  with  the  issue  has  been  anything  but  a  light  one;  and  Mr.  S.  G. 
Wilkinson,  of  the  Oxford  Bible  Warehouse,  who  have  used  a  very  large 
number  of  the  stamps  in  their  Commemoration  Bibles  and  Prayer  Books; 
and  representatives  of  the  various  Philatelic  Societies. 

The  Royal  party  were  at  once  conducted  to  the  Printing  Department, 
which  they  entered  by  a  private  passage  through  the  Branch  Banks  Office, 
where  they  were  met  by  Mr.  W.  J.  Coe,  the  Superintendent  of  the  Department. 

Passing  through  the  machine-room,  where  all  the  account  books  of  the 
Bank  are  printed,  and  where,  by  the  way,  is  the  first  machine  from  which 
the  postal  orders  were  printed,  and  also  a  fine  Middleton  gripper  machine, 
which  prints  both  sides  of  the  paper  at  once,  the  Royal  party  reached  the  Die 
Sinking  Department,  where  the  destruction  of  the  plates  was  to  take  place. 

In  this  room,  which  is  under  the  charge  of  Mr.  F.  C.  Smith  (who  has 
been  in  the  service  of  the  Bank  over  forty  years),  all  the  dies  and  water- 


220       THE  PRINCE   OF   WALES'S  HOSPITAL  FUND  FOR  LONDON. 

marking  plates  are  designed  and  made  for  the  bank  notes,  postal  orders, 
Indian  notes,  Exchequer  bills,  and  any  other  papers  requiring  a  watermark, 
and  Mr.  Smith  takes  a  pride  in  showing  a  paper  mould  (from  which  the 
watermark  is  impressed  upon  the  paper  whilst  in  course  of  manufacture)  of 
a  fine  Damascus  pattern,  the  process  for  making  which  was  patented  by  his 
father,  Mr.  John  Smith,  in  1849,  the  mould  being  shown  at  the  Great 
Exhibition  of  185 1. 

At  the  benches  in  this  room  were  stationed  in  readiness  three  expert 
workmen,  each  provided  with  an  enormous  two-inch  file  or  rubber,  weighing 
16  lbs.,  and  as  soon  as  the  seals  of  the  plates,  which  had  previously  been 
brought  from  the  strong-rooms  under  the  charge  of  the  Bank  Ofiicials,  had 
been  broken  by  the  Governor,  the  steel  plates  were  fixed  in  position  on  the 
benches,  and  the  workmen  set  to  work  with  a  will  to  obliterate  every  line  of 
the  delicate  tracery  constituting  the  design  of  the  plates.  With  the  powerful 
tools  at  hand  even  the  hard  surface  of  the  three  steel  plates  from  w'hich 
alone  the  stamps  had  been  printed  soon  had  to  yield,  and  after  about  ten 
minutes  or  a  quarter  of  an  hour's  hard  work  the  surface  of  the  plates  was 
utterly  defaced.  The  destruction  of  the  steel  plates  being  complete,  the 
attention  of  the  workmen  was  then  directed  to  the  original  matrix  and  die,  the 
raised  surface  of  the  designs  upon  which,  being  too  hard  to  be  much  affected 
by  the  powerful  files  which  had  been  used  upon  the  printing  plates,  were  then 
applied  to  a  grindstone,  which  stood  ready  at  hand,  and  in  a  short  space  of 
time  the  designs  were  ground  level  with  the  surfaces  of  the  matrix  and  die. 

The  defaced  plates  and  dies  were  once  again  consigned  to  the  charge  of 
the  Bank  Officials. 

Their  Royal  Highnesses  then  proceeded  to  the  Governor's  room,  where  the 

official  certificate  of  the  destruction  of  the  plates  was  signed  by  their  Royal 

Highnesses  the  Duke  and  Duchess  of  York;  Mr.  H.  C.  Smith,  the  Governor 

of  the  Bank  of  England  ;   Mr.  J.  S.  Purcell,  C.B.,  Controller  of  Stamps;  and 

the  following  members  of  the  Organising  Committee  of  the  Prince  of  Wales's 

Hospital  Fund  :  Lord  Rothschild,  Lord  Rowton,  Sir  Henry  Burdett,  K.C.B., 

the    Right    Hon.    C.    Stuart    Wortley,  Q.C.,    M.P.,   Sir    Savile    Crossley,    and 

Mr.  J.  G.  Craggs. 

The  certificate  is  as  follows  : — 

"Bank  of  England. 

"  Certificate  of  the  destruction  of  the  Dies  and  Plates  employed  in  the  production 
of  the  Prince  of  Wales's  Hospital  Fund  Stamps. 


"  We,  the  undersigned,  hereby  certify  that  the  whole  of  the  Dies  and  Plates  used 
in  the  production  of  these  stamps  were  this  day  destroyed  in  our  presence." 

Here  follow  the  signatures  as  above. 

The  Governor  of  the  Bank  then  said:  "On  behalf  of  the  Committee  of 
the  Prince  of  Wales's  Fund,  I  beg  to  thank  your  Royal  Highness  and  the 
Duchess  for  coming  here  to-day  to  see  the  plates  destroyed.  Perhaps  you 
will  kindly  certify  to  those  present  that  you  are  quite  satisfied  that  no  more 
stamps  can  be  printed  from  the  plates." 

The  Duke  of  York  replied  :  "  It  has  interested  both  the  Duchess  and 
myself  a  great  deal  to  come  to-day  and  see  the  destruction  of  the  dies  and 


PHILATELIC  NOTES.  221 

plates  of  the  stamps  which  are  issued  in  connection  with  the  Prince  of 
Wales's  Hospital  Fund,  and  I  trust  that  the  remainder  of  the  stamps  will  be 
soon  sold,  as  I  think  there  can  be  no  more  appropriate  souvenir  of  Her 
Majesty's  Diamond  Jubilee  than  these  stamps." 

His  Royal  Highness  added  that  the  defaced  plates  and  dies  might  form 
an  interesting  exhibit  at  the  forthcoming  Philatelic  Exhibition,  which  he  is  to 
open  in  London  on  the  22nd  inst. 

The  Royal  party  afterwards  made  a  tour  of  the  Printing  Department  of 
the  Bank,  where  they  were  much  interested  in  inspecting  the  details  of 
producing  the  bank  notes,  postal  orders,  cheques,  etc.  etc. 


Note.  —  The  co-operation  of  Philatelists  is  invited  in  order  to  make  this  column  of  a  varied 

afid  interesting  nature. 


GREAT  BRITAIN.     POST  CARDS— VARIETIES   OF  THE  ''ARMS." 
R.  C.  F.  Dendy  Marshall  calls  attention  in  the  English  Specialists' 
Journal  to  the  varieties  of  the  "  Arms  "  on  the  post  cards  of  Great 


Britain.  These  are  known  to  many,  but,  as  he  says,  have  seldom  been 
described. 

"  In  the  first  type  the  tail  of  the  lion  touches  his  shoulder.  This  is  only 
found,  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  on  cards  with  a  border. 

"  In  the  second  type  the  tail  does  not  touch.  The  lion  might  be  said 
to  have  a  '  Dundreary '  head.  The  3d.  cards  were  always,  as  far  as  I 
know,  printed  with  this  type. 

"  In  type  three  the  tail  does  not  touch.  The  right  paw  of  the  lion  slightly 
overlaps  the  band  round  the  shield." 


SIERRA  LEONE,  1884.  5/-  ON  i/-,  GREEN,  IVMR'.  CR.  C  C. 
ESSRS.  Whitfield  King  &  Co.  have  sent  for  our  inspection  a  notice 
relative  to  the  provisional  5/-  stamp,  which  was  issued  in  May,  1884, 
the  i/-,  green,  wmk.  Cr.  CC,  being  surcharged  with  this  value.  This  stamp 
has,  up  to  the  present,  been  looked  upon  as  a  Revenue  stamp  only;  but  the 
notice  referred  to  contains  a  letter  from  the  Postmaster-General  of  Sierra 
Leone,  which  would  seem  to  alter  the  opinion  which  has  hitherto  been 
expressed  regarding  this  provisional. 

"  No.  iVaV-  General  Post  Office,  Sierra  Leone, 

April  10th,   1897. 
"Sir, — In  reply  to  your  letter  of  the  7th  instant,  I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you 
that  there  was  issued  in  May,  1884,  a  i/-  stamp  surcharged  5/-.      The  Honourable 
the  Acting  Treasurer  has  informed  me  in  regard  to  it,  that,  so  far  as  he  can  gather,  the 
stamps  were  for  postage,  and  not  postage  and  revenue. 

"  I  am,  Sir,  your  obedient  Servant, 

"(Signed)  J.  CLE  UGH,  Postmaster-General. 

"To  W.  H.   Hall,  Esq., 

''Freetown,  sierra  Leone." 


222 


^rcasional  Holts. 


oXKo 


IMPORTANT  TO  MEMBERS  OF  THE  PHILATELIC  SOCIETY, 

LONDON. 

HE  Society's  Rooms  at  Effingham  House  will,  by  order  of  the  House 
Committee,  be  CLOSED  from  August  8th  to  August  31st,  inclusive. 


E  are  desired  to  state  that  the  Expert  Committee  of  the  London 
Philatelic  Society  cannot  undertake  any  work  during  the  months  of 
August  and  September,  as  its  members  will  be  scattered  during  that  period. 
After  that  stamps  for  examination  should  be  sent,  as  hitherto,  to  Major 
Evans,  Longton  Avenue,  Sydenham,  S.E.,  with  the  fee — 2s.  6d.  for  a  single 
stamp,  or  2s.  each  for  two  or  more  stamps  sent  together. 


SUNDRY  PHILATELIC   PUBLICATIONS. 

R.  J.  Cansino  sends  us  a  Directory  of  Collectors,  published  by  M.  Lyon- 
Claesen,  of  Brussels,  classified  under  the  respective  countries  and 
their  towns  in  alphabetical  order.  The  idea  is  good,  and  the  clear  typography, 
with  margin  for  notes  against  each  name,  is  to  be  commended.  The  British 
division  is  remarkably  inaccurate  and  incomplete,  and  the  lists  of  Berlin 
and  Paris  omit  a  large  proportion  of  the  best-known  names — hence  a 
thorough  revision  will  be  required  to  make  the  Directory  of  any  service. 

Mr.  C.  Stewart,  of  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  forwards  a  Guide  to  Colours  of  Postage 
Stamps,  the  feature  of  which  is  a  classified  list  of  shades,  with  the  name 
of  the  stamp  on  which  it  will  be  found,  and  a  space  for  the  insertion  of  each 
specimen  so  designated.  Only  common  stamps  are  selected  for  this  purpose, 
but  a  great  mistake  is  made  in  recommending  used  specimens.  The  only 
undoubted  shades  of  true  colour  are  those  found  in  stamps  that  are  in  prime 
unused  condition.  The  idea  is,  however,  ingenious  and  novel;  but  how  far 
any  guide  to  colour  can  be  made  practicable  is  a  question  that  the  nineteenth 

century  has  not  yet  solved. 

♦ 

ITALIAN  FORGERIES    OF    THE  3    LIRE,    TUSCANY. 

E  have  to  acknowledge — thanks  to  the  energetic  and  praiseworthy 
intervention  of  Dr.  E.  Diena — the  receipt  of  specimens  of  the  3  lire 
of  Tuscany,  which  constitute  the  most  dangerous  imitation  of  this  rare 
stamp  that  has  yet  appeared.  The  two  "  stamps  "  kindly  furnished  by  our 
correspondent  are  of  an  ochre-yellow  shade,  rather  more  sombre  than  the 
darker  colour  of  this  stamp  that  is  generally  known ;  they  are  (naturally) 
beautifully  margined,  and  bear  portions  of  the  obliteration  in  horizontal  lines 
of  Roman  capitals  PER  CONSEGNA,  the  one  having  this  legend  in  one  line 
and  the  other  in  two.  The  design  of  these  fabrications,  the  paper  (duly 
watermarked),    and    the    obliteration,   all    fail    to   tally  with    the   originals, 


NEW  ISSUES. 


223 


although  in  general  appearance  and  without  forewarning  almost  anyone 
might  be  deceived  therewith.  We  do  not,  however,  in  the  interests  of  MM. 
les  faiissaircs,  deem  it  advisable  to  enter  into  particulars  more  closely. 
We  shall,  however,  be  pleased  to  give  an  opinion  on  any  specimen  that  may 
have  been  recently  purchased  from  Italy  if  forwarded  to  the  Editor  of  this 
Journal,  and  Dr.  E.  Diena  kindly  offers  to  examine  such,  his  address  being 
57,  Campo  Marzio,  Rome. 

Not  content  with  the  issue  of  these  used  specimens,  the  originators  of 
this  fraud  had  produced  an  unused  horizontal  strip  of  these  specimens  with 
"  original  gum  and  in  brilliant  condition,"  with  which  they  proposed  to  create 
a  sensation  in  the  Philatelic  world.  Happily,  however,  these  have  also  been 
nailed  to  the  counter,  and  we  have  once  more  to  acknowledge  the  timely 
and  valuable  assistance  rendered  to  Philately  by  one  of  the  most  esteemed 
members  of  the  London  Philatelic  Society — Dr.  Emilio  Diena. 


THE  PHILATELIC  CONGRESS  AT  HAMBURG. 
RESSURE  on  our  space  precludes  more  than  the  mention  that  this  now 
well-known  function  was  held  at  the  shipping  metropolis  of  Germany, 
was  numerously  attended,  and  productive  of  great  enjoyment  to  all  who 
showed  therein.  The  principal  Philatelic  feature,  as  we  are  informed  by 
several  gentlemen  who  attended,  was  the  remarkably  few  fine  unused  stamps 
on  offer,  and  the  equally  remarkable  high  prices  demanded  for  them.  The 
"  slump  "  apparently  has  not  travelled  by  the  celebrated  express  train  from 
Berlin  to  Hamburg ! 


Irki'D   ISSXUS^ 


NOTES   OF   NEW,    AND    VARIATIONS  OF   CURRENT,    ISSUES. 

(Varieties  of  Obsolete  Stamps,  and  Discoveries,  will  be  fomid  under  "Philatelic  Notes." 

We  do  not  profess  to  chronicle  everything,  hut,  with  the  kind  help  of  correspondents,  are  desirous  that 
all  the  important  novelties  may  be  included.  Speculative  stamps — i.e.  those  not  really  required  for 
postal  purposes — will  be  considered  on  their  merits,  and  Jubilee  issues  will  not  be  chronicled. 

Members  of  the  London  Philatelic  Society,  and  other  readers  generally,  are  invited  to  co-operate  with  us 
in  making  the  columns  as  interesting  as  possible.  Our  foreign  readers  can  especially  help  lis  in 
this  direction,  by  se)iding  copies  of  any  official  documents  relative  to  changes  in  the  current  issues, 
or  early  intitnation  of  any  new  issue,  accompanied,  when  possible,  by  a  specitnen  ;  such  information 
will  be  duly  credited  to  the  correspondetit ,  and,  if  desired,  the  specimen  promptly  rettirned. 
Address:  Editor  "London  Philatelist,"  Effingham  House,  Arundel  Street,  Strand, 
London,  W.C. 


BRITISH   EMPIRE. 

British  Bechuanaland.— The  illustra- 
tion annexed  is  that  of  the  stamp  described 
on  page  134. 


British  Honduras.— The  M.J.  de- 
scribes a  Frank  stamp  similar  to  those  of 
the  Australian  Colonies.  It  has  the  arms 
in  the  centre,  surrounded  by  the  words, 
"Governor  —  British  Honduras,"  within  a 
single-lined  circle.  It  is  applied  by  means 
of  a  hand  stamp. 

Canada. — We  illustrate  the  Jubilee  issue 
on  an  enlarged  scale,  which  we  described 
last  month.  From  the  reception  which  these 
stamps  have  already  been  given,  it  would  be 


224 


NEW  ISSUES. 


useless  to  attempt  any  remarks  on  the  issue 
which  would  detract  from  their  popularity, 
but  we  are  of  impression  that  a  permanent 
set  would  have  been  a  more  creditable 
means  of  celebrating  the  Diamond  Jubilee 
on  the  part  of  our  leading  Colony.  Specula- 
tion has  been  rampant  on  the  \  c.  and  6  c. 
values,  despite  information  which  is  in  our 
hands  from  a  high  official  source  that,  to 
guard  against  this,  the  Post  Office  Depart- 
ment had  so  ordered  that  these  values  were 


only  to  be  sold  with  complete  sets.  We 
would  advise  our  readers  to  give  due 
consideration  before  paying  extortionate 
prices  for  certain  values  which  show 
evidence  of  being  "cornered,"  and,  if 
possible,  rest  content  with  a  single  speci- 
men, which  will  illustrate  the  whole  set. 
They  may  readily  go  the  way  of  the  75  c. 
Monaco!  The  A.  J.  of  Ph.  informs  us 
that  owing  to  the  similarity  of  the  8  c.  to 
the  colour  of  the  10  c.  the  former  value  has 
been  withdrawn.  The  stamps  are  printed 
by  the  American  Banii  Note  Co.,  and 
printed  upon  white  wove  paper,  perf.  12. 

Adhesiz'L's.     i  c,  black. 

1  c,  orange. 

2  c,  green. 

3  c,  bright  rose. 

5  c,  deep  blue. 

6  c,  rich  brown. 

8  c,  violet-brown. 
10  c,  brown-violet. 
15  c,  steel  blue. 
20  c,  vermilion. 
50  c,  ultramarine. 
Si,  red. 

$2,  dark  purple. 
•?3>  yellow-brown. 
§4,  purple. 
S5,  olive. 
Post  Card,     i  c,  black  on  buff. 

Indian  N.vtive  States.— Z^j-  Be/a.— 
The  J/.  J.  announces  a  I  anna  stamp  for 
this  State,  which,  after  a  diligent  search,  we 
have  failed  to  locate  on  our  map.  From  an 
illustration  in  Lc  T.  P.  we  learn  that  the 
labels  are  square  shaped,  inscribed  "  Las 
Bela "  at  top,  "  State "  at  base,  with  native 


inscriptions  at  the  sides,  and  on  a  lozenge  in 
the  centre.  The  sheets  contain  20  stamps, 
four  horizontal  rows  of  five  stamps  each, 
perforated. 

Adhesive.     J  anna,  black. 

Duttia. — The  Ph.  J.  of  India  adds  the 
following  to  our  list  on  page  98,  all  of  the 
Type  I  described : 

Adhesives. 
h  anna,  black  on  light  bljte green ;  thin  ivoz'e paper;  Type  i. 

1  ,,  ,,  white;  thin  U'orve paper;   Type  i. 

2  ,,  ,,  yellow;  thin  wove  paper        „ 
4     ,,          ,,          rose;  thin  wove  paper  ,, 

These  stamps  are  printed  in  strips  of 
eight— down  one  strip  and  up  the  next,  so 
that  in  horizontal  rows  every  second  stamp 
is  tete-beche. 

Mauritius.  — We  have  the  single  and 
reply  8  c.  post  cards  bearing  the  "  Arms " 
stamp,  to  add  to  our  list  of  last  month  ;  we 
also  learn  that  there  are  two  sizes  of  each  of 
the  18  c.  and  36  c.  envelopes. 

Post  Cards.     8  c,  rose  on  buff. 

8+8  c      „  „     (reply). 

Newfoundland. —A  new  issue  of  de- 
cidedly patriotic  and  commemorative  intent 
has  made  its  appearance  here,  and  if  the 
inscription  1497- 1897  contained  in  the  de- 
signs is  to  be  read  literally,  we  regret  that 
the  action  of  this  sister  Colony  should  have 
so  palpably  resembled  that  of  Portugal  and 
other  flagrant  money -making  countries, 
which  have  received  such  severe  condem- 
nation and  contempt  from  stamp  collectors. 
In  the  present  instance  the  designs  are 
handsome,  and  to  some  extent  singularly 
appropriate  ;  but  apart  from  this  we  can  say 
no  more,  and  must  wait  for  further  news  as 
to  the  standing  of  the  issue.  That  a  British 
Colony  or  Colonies  should  stoop  to  such 
action  as  the  present  case  suggests  is  to  be 
greatly  regretted,  and  we  only  hope  the 
stamps  may  turn  out  to  be  permanent. 

New  South  Wales.— Just  as  we  go  to 
press  we  have  received  important  news  from 
Mr.  A.  F.  Bassett  Hull  regarding  the  three 
stamps  issued  in  honour  of  the  (Jueen's 
Diamond  Jubilee,  as  also  a  most  unpala- 
table scheme  for  Hospital  stamps,  to  which 
we  will  refer  in  our  next  issue. 

Sierra  Leone. — The  colour  of  the  new 
5d.  adhesive  should  be  lilac  and  black,  not 
violet,  and  the  M.  f.  is  informed  that  the 
2s.  Fiscal  stamp  was  also  converted  into  a 
i\A.  postage  stamp,  by  the  addition  of  the 
usual  surcharge.     Only  240  of  these  stamps, 


NEW  ISSUES. 


225 


however,  are  said  to  have  been  issued,  and 
perhaps  with  very  good  reason. 

Adhesives.     sd.,  lilac  and  black. 

2§d.,  in  black,  on  2s.,  lilac,  fiscal. 

Straits  Settlements. — Native  States. 
— Pahang. — On  page  19  we  referred  to  this 
State  as  having  only  one  value  of  the  tiger's 
head  stamps  in  use — the  3  c.  A  5  c.  has 
now  been  issued  in  the  following  colours  : 

Adhesive.     5  c,  lilac  and  olive-yellow. 

EUROPE. 

Belgium. — A  change  has  been  effected  in 
the  colour  of  the  50  c.  stamp,  grey  occupy- 
ing the  place  of  bistre-brown. 

Adhesive.     50  c. ,  grey. 

Germany.— Z^  T.  P.  illustrates  the  cur- 
rent 10  pf  post  card,  the  stamp  on  the  same 
being  surcharged  "  Nur  fiir  Marine-Schiffs- 
posten"  in  a  semicircle,  signifying  for  naval 
use  only. 

Post  Card.     10  pf.,  carmine  on  hujf,  black  surcharge. 

Holland. — We  have  good  information  to 
the  effect  that  there  is  no  truth  in  the  state- 
ment which  has  been  made  that  a  new  issue 
is  impending. 

Italy.  ^ — From  the  same  source.  The 
7^  X  ']\  c.  and  lo  c.  cards  are  now  dated  '97. 

Switzerland.— There  is  a  slight  modi- 
fication of  the  5  c.  wrapper  stamp,  the  arms 
of  the  5  having  been  redrawn,  similar  to  the 
post  cards. 

AMERICA. 

Argentine  Republic— A  new  value, 
I  peso  20  c,  has  been  brought  into  use  for 
prepayment  of  the  postage  on  packets 
weighing  from  two  to  five  kilos.;  wmk.  Sun, 
perf.  1 1^,  type  of  the  i  peso  (portrait  of  San 

Martin).        Adhesive,     i  p.  20  c.,  black. 


Bolivia. — More  worthies  havebeen  trotted 
to  the  front,  framed  as  i,  5,  and  50  c.  and 
I  boliviano  values,  while  the  2  bolivianos 
has  been  reserved  for  the  national  Coat 
of  Arms. 

Adhesives.     i  c,  pale  yellow-green 
5  c,  dark  blue-green. 
50  c,  orange. 

1  boliviano,  violet  on  bluish. 

2  ,,         black. 

OTHER  COUNTRIES. 

Cuba. — Le  C.  de  T.-P.  adds  to  the  current 
set, 

Adhesives.     40  c.  de  peso,  red. 

80  ,1  bistre. 

Egypt. — Mr.  H.  Edgar  Weston  informs 
us  as  to  some  further  values  of  the  current 
set  which  have  been  surcharged  "  Soiidaii"; 
these  are  the  lo  paras  and  the  2,  5,  and  10 
piastres. 

Adhesives.     lo  paras,  green  ;  black  surcharge. 

2  piastres,  orange-brown  ;  black  surcharge. 
5        ,,        rose-carmine  ,, 

10        ,,        violet  ,, 

In  addition  to  the  above,  we  understand 
that  a  grand  supply  of  envelopes,  post  cards, 
postage  due  stamps,  etc.,  has  also  been  doled 
out  with  the  same  surcharge. 

Fernando  Poo. — The  2  c.  has  been 
surcharged  "5"  "Cen"  in  an  oval. 

Adhesive.     5  c  on  2  c.  de  peso,  rose  ;  blue  surcharge. 

Philippine  Islands.  —  The  i  c.  has 
changed  colour,  and  the  two  values  added 
to  Cuba  have  also  been  supplied  here. 

Adhesives.     i  c.  de  peso,  carmine. 
40  ,,  violet. 

80  ,,  carmine. 

Porto  Rico. — We  hear  of  the  following 
addition  : 

Adhesive.     80  c.  de  peso,  black. 


[       226       ] 


^Ijilali^hc  Sondtes  glcttings. 
^ 

BIRMINGHAM   PHILATELIC  SOCIETY. 

♦ 

President—'^.  T.  Wilson,  Esq. 
Hon.  Sec.  and  Treas. — Mr.  G.  Johnson,  B.  A., 

208,  Birckfield  Koadj  Birnn'ng/ia/n, 


May  6th.— Messrs.  F.  Neck  (London),  G. 
E.  D.  Morey  (Tasmania),  J.  Esterellas  y 
Carbonell  (Spain),  were  unanimously  elected 
members. 

Mr.  W.  B.  Avery  then  gave  his  display. 
The  stamps  of  Great  Britain  were  taken 
first.  They  included  a  special  official  col- 
lection of  imperforates — one  from  every  plate 
that  has  been  printed  from.  They  were 
specially  interesting  as  showing  the  fine 
colours  and  beautiful  engraving  of  the  early 
stamps  before  the  plates  became  worn. 
Many  of  the  copies,  although  they  had 
never  been  gummed,  showed  very  fine  "  ivory 
heads,"  showing  most  conclusively  that  the 
oft-repeated  nonsense  about  the  action  of 
the  gum  causing  this  appearance  is  abso- 
lutely wrong.  Then  came  the  general 
collection  of  Great  Britain,  containing  all 
the  rarities  unused,  among  them  being  such 
trifles  as  a  block  of  23  V.R.  id.,  black  ;  gd., 
wmk.  "  emblems,"  Plate  5  ;  the  ajd.  error ; 
complete  panes  of  3d.  with  white  dot 
(Plate  3);  IS.  with  hair-line  (Plate  3);  and 
most  values  on  trial  safety  paper. 

Africa  was  shown  next,  including  several 
pages  of  shades  of  Cape  wood-blocks — one 
page  being  devoted  to  the  errors,  singles,  and 
pairs  ;  Boer  Republic,  complete ;  several 
grand  pages  of  Post  Paid  Mauritius,  followed 
by  a  profuse  display  of  the  rarities  of  the 
subsequent  issues  ;  Sierra  Leone  and  Lagos 
were  very  fine.  Indeed,  in  all  countries  it 
was  noted  that  in  almost  every  case  the 
rarer  the  stamp  the  greater  was  the  number 
shown,  the  finer  the  range  of  shade,  and, 
generally  speaking,  the  greater  attention 
evidently  paid  to  it. 

British  Asia  followed  with  a  very  fine  lot 
of  Ceylons,  which  included,  with  one  or  two 
exceptions,  full  range  of  shades  in  used  and 
unused.  The  rarities  of  India  and  Straits 
had  also  been  well  looked  after. 

(lerman  States  then  received  the  attention 
of  the  members,  and  son>e  who  were  en- 
deavouring with  difficulty  to  fill  up  spaces 
with  unused  were    surprised    to    see  such 


stamps  as  the  early  issues  of  Baden,  etc., 
shown  by  the  half-sheet  (2  panes)  of  each 
value.  With  the  exception  of  two  of  the  rare 
Wurtembergs,  all  varieties  were  shown,  used 
and  unused,  by  shades. 

Spain  and  her  Colonies  came  next.  In 
these,  again,  there  were  far  more  of  the 
unused  rarities  of  the  early  issues  than  the 
common  varieties.  The  early  issues  of  Spain 
and  Philippines  were  exceptionally  fine,  and 
can  only  have  been  obtained  by  patient 
search  and  waiting,  in  addition  to  the  other 
necessaries  for  such  a  display.  The  in- 
verted frames  were  shown  used  and  unused, 
the  errors  in  the  original  blocks  and  used 
on  part  of  original  envelopes  along  with 
others.  Many  of  the  medium  varieties  were 
shown  in  half  sheets. 

Then  came  two  fine  volumes  of  the  stamps 
of  Greece,  most  carefully  arranged,  and  con- 
taining varieties  of  printing,  misprints,  etc., 
that  were  new  to  most  members  present. 

South  America  followed.  This  included 
a  grand  lot  of  Buenos  Ayres,  with  a  pro- 
fusion of  fine  shades  and  many  pairs.  As 
the  evening  was  now  getting  late,  and 
carriages  had  long  since  been  announced, 
there  was  only  just  time  for  a  hasty  glance 
at  one  of  the  divisions  of  West  Indies — 
Nevis  to  Virgin  Islands.  If  the  members 
had  seen  nothing  else,  there  were  enough 
rarities  displayed  in  this  section  to  satisfy 
for  many  a  day.  In  Nevis,  unused  sheets 
were  shown  of  all  varieties  except  is.,  yellow- 
green,  and  IS.  on  laid;  reconstructed  sheets 
of  used  stamps  were  shown  of  nearly  all 
varieties.  Altogether  there  were  three  com- 
plete sheets  of  the  rare  6d.,  litho. 

The  early  issues  of  St.  Vincent,  with 
their  fine  range  of  shade,  occupied  some 
time. 

A  very  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  given 
to  Mr.  Avery  for  so  kindly  bringing  his 
stamps  and  explaining  them  to  the  members. 
His  very  kind  response  terminated  one  of 
the  most  enjoyable  and  instructive  meetings 
we  have  had. 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


227 


BRIGHTON  AND  SUSSEX  PHILATELIC  SOCIETY. 


President— "^l.  P.  Castle. 
Hon.  Scci-ctaiy  and  7>raww— Baron  A.  de  Worms. 
Assistant  Hon.  Seci-etaiy—W .  T.  Willett,  West  House,  Brighton. 


The  eleventh  meeting  of  the  season  was 
held  at  Markwell's  Hotel,  Brighton,  on 
Tuesday,  March  9th,  at  8.15  p.m.  Seven 
members  and  one  visitor  were  present.  The 
Vice-President  in  the  chair.  After  the 
minutes  of  the  previous  meeting  had  been 
read  and  confirmed,  a  letter  from  a  member 
tendering  his  resignation  was  read,  and 
directed  to  be  accepted.  A  display  of  the 
stamps  of  Ceylon  then  took  place.  Specimens 
of  every  variety,  both  used  and  unused, 
were  shown,  and  in  most  cases  several 
shades  of  each  value.  Among  the  rarities 
shown  may  be  specially  mentioned  unused 
copies  of  the  imperf.  4d.,  8d.,  gd.,  is.,  and 
2s.  ;  pairs  of  imperf.  4d.,  sd.,  lod.,  is.  gd., 
and  2s.  ;  of  perf.  4d.,  6d.,  8d.,  gd.,  lod.,  and 
28.  ;  a  block  of  seven  5d.  CC,  brown,  un- 


used ;  24  c,  plum.     The  condition  of  all  the 
stamps  shown  was  exceptionally  fine. 


The  twelfth  meeting  was  held  on  Tuesday, 
March  23rd.  The  Vice-President  took  the 
chair,  supported  by  five  members.  The 
Chairman  exhibited  his  fine  collection  of 
Belgium  and  Luxemburg,  describing  all 
the  principal  varieties  of  the  different  issues. 
The  collection  was  replete  with  blocks,  pairs, 
and  many  shades  of  each  variety.  In  Mr. 
Redman's  opinion  the  majority  of  the  errors 
in  the  official  stamps  of  Luxemburg  were 
mainly  made  for  collectors  only.  A  hearty 
vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Redman  for  his  in- 
teresting paper  and  display  was  unanimously 
carried. 


THE    COLLECTORS'    CLUB, 

351,  Fourth  Avenue,  New  York. 


President— Wu.hiA},!  Herrick. 
Vice-President — Charles  Gregory. 


Secretary-].  M.  Andreini,  29,  W.  75th  Street. 
Treasurer — JOHN  W.  ScOTT,  40,  John  Street. 


Ninth  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Governors 
held  at  the  Club  House,  351,  Fourth  Avenue, 
April  1 2th,  1897.  Vice-President  Chas. 
Gregory  in  the  chair.  Present  :  Messrs. 
Luff,  Lynde,  Scott,  and  the  Secretary. 

Called  to  order  at  8.10  p.m.  Minutes  of 
previous  meeting  read  and  approved. 

The  Secretary  read  a  letter  of  thanks  from 
the  Secretary  of  the  Staten  Island  Philatelic 
Society,  also  a  letter  from  the  Chairman  of 
the  Literary  Committee  advising  receipt  of 
Philatelic  literature  donated  to  the  Club 
Library  by  Messrs.  Stanley  Gibbons,  Ltd., 
London,  to  whom  a  vote  of  thanks  was 
tendered. 

The  Governors  extended  their  thanks  to 
the  J.  W.  Scott  Co.,  Ltd.,  for  bound  volume 
of  Metropolitan  Philatelist  and  two  books 
of  reference  received  for  Club  Library,  to 
John  W.  Scott  for  loan  of  handsome  clock 
for  Assembly  Room,  to  John  N.  Luff  for 
loan  of  bronze  ornament  for  the  same  room, 
and  to  the  Secretary  for  gift  of  foreign 
Philatelic  papers. 


The  Treasuer's  report  was  then  received, 
showing  a  balance  in  bank  of  $992.96. 

The  Chairmen  of  House  and  Amusement 
Committees  made  their  reports,  which  were 
received. 

The  Treasurer  reported  that  stockholders 
J.  V.  Painter,  Cleveland,  O.,  and  Ed.  Kelly, 
Temple  Court,  New  York,  had  duly  qualified. 

The  Secretary  read  a  letter  from  Mr. 
Pray,  executor  of  the  will  of  Wm.  Theo. 
Curtis,  announcing  his  death  on  March 
30th,  1897,  and  the  Secretary  was  directed 
to  convey  to  Mr.  Pray,  as  executor,  the 
expression  of  the  Governors'  grief  at  the 
sad  loss  of  their  friend  and  fellow-member. 

Upon  ballot  the  following  candidates  for 
subscribing  membership  were  unanimously 
elected:  August  Lehmann,  jun.,  188,  Tyler 
Street,  Paterson,  N.J. ;  Chas.  H.  Mead,  37, 
W.  42nd  Street,  New  York;  Monson  Morris, 
14,  E.  63rd  Street,  New  York ;  and  they  were 
thereupon  declared  duly  elected. 

Adjourned  at  9.35  p.m. 

J.  M.  Andreini,  Secretary. 


[        228        ] 


tiarhet. 


I 

f. 

r/. 

2 

O 

o 

2 

12 

6 

1 
J) 

7 

9 

6 

15 

0 

7 

o 

o 

3 

S 

o 

8 

10 

0 

6 

o 

0 

7 

lO 

o 

4 

4 

o 

2 

5 

o 

Messrs.  Ventom,  Bull,  &  Cooper 
Sale  on  June  i6th  and  17th. 

Great  Britain,  "  I.  R.  Official,"  5/-, 

rose 

Ditto,  10/-,  blue    .... 

Ditto,  £\,  green 

The  Levant,  1865,  2  kop.,  brown 

and  blue,  on  original     . 
Ditto,  20  kop.,  blue  and  red,  on 

original  .... 

Johore,  2  c.  on  24  c,  green,  error 

"censt"       .... 
United  States,  1870,  24  c,  violet, 

with  grille      .... 
Barbados,  imperf.,  i/-,  black,  un- 
used block  of  4     . 
Campeche,  50  c  ,  blue,  on  piece  of 

original  .... 

Peru,  1857,  provis.,  i  real,  blue    . 
Ditto,  1858,  \  peso,  rose-red 

Sale  on  July  ist  and  2nd. 

Tuscany,  9  crazie,  on  white,  un- 
used (no  gum)       .        .         .700 

United  States,  "Columbus"  issue, 

complete,  unused  .         -330 

New  South  Wales,  laureated,  3d., 
green,  error,  wmk.  2,  unused 
(no  gum),  and  cracked  across     11     00 

Queensland,    imperf,    2d,    blue, 

strip  of  3,  used  on  original   .     22  10    o 

Ditto,  wmk.  script,  sq.  perf,  id., 

orange,  unused  strip  of  3      .1100 


Messrs.  Puttick  &  Simpson 
Sale  on  June  15th  and  i6th. 

Heligoland,  perf,  \  sch.,  error, 
frame  in  red 

Switzerland,  Basle,  2\  rappen, 
blue  and  scarlet,  unused 

Ditto,  Geneva,  double  stamp  un- 
severed  .... 

Ditto,  Geneva,  envelope,  small 
size,  5  c,  green 

Ditto,  Zurich,  4  rappen,  vertical 
lines  (Type  I.) 

Ditto,  ditto,  ditto,  horizontal  lines 
(Type  III.)  .         .        . 

Ditto,  ditto,  ditto,  ditto  (Type  IV.) 

British  East  Africa,  surch.  on 
Company's  stamps,  \  a.  to 
5  rupees,  set  of  15 

Canada,  imperf,  7id.,  green,  un- 
used       

Nevis,  i/-,  yellow-green,  on  laid 
paper     

South  Australia,  imperf,  id.,  green, 
London  print,  strip  of  4  un- 
used, no  gum 


3     6 

6  o 
25  10 

7  o 
20    o 


IS 
13 


14 


10  10 


d. 
O 


45 


7 

0 

0 

5 

5 

0 

5 

10 

0 

9 

10 

0 

7 

5 

0 

8 

10 

0 

9 

10 

0 

British    Guiana,    4    cents,    blue      £, 

(No.  5  on  plate)  .         .         .15 
New  Zealand,  half  of  i/-,  green, 

wmk.  Star  on  bleute,  used  on 

entire  envelope  as  6d.,  dated 

"Otago,  Feb.  19,  1858"        .      7  17     6 

Sale  on  June  29th  and  30th. 

Great  Britain,  id.,  red-brown, 
square  block  of  4,  on  Dickin- 
son paper,  with  threads,  in- 
scriptions on  margins    .         .       8   15     o 

Bavaria,  6  kr.,  bistre-brown,  Type 
I.,  broken  circle,  with  gum   . 

Bremen,  7  grote,  perf. 

Mecklenburg  -  Schwerin,  \  sch., 
dotted  ground,  rouletted 

Oldenburg,  ist  issue,  Jgros.,green, 
block  of  4,  with  gum 

Ditto,  2nd  issue,  3  gros.,  black  on 
yellow,  with  gum 

Roumania,  ist  issue,  54  paras, 
green,  red  postmark     . 

Saxony,  3  pf 

Switzerland,  Vaud,  4  c,  red  post- 
mark     .         .         .         .         .     20  10     o 

Ditto,  Zurich,  4  rap.,  vertical  lines 
(Type  IV.)     .... 

Tuscany,  60  crazie 

Wurtemberg,  1st  issue,  6  kr., black 
on  green,  horizontal  pair,  with 
gum 

Ditto,  70  kr,  strip  of  3,  unused   . 

Ceylon,  imperf,  8d.,  brown 

\^ancouverIsland,  5c.,rose,imperf. 

British  Columbia,  perf  14,  10  c, 
blue  and  rose,  horizontal  pair, 
with  gum       .... 

Canada,  i2d.,  black  on  laid  paper 

Newfoundland,  half  i/-,  carmine, 
used  as  6d.  on  part  of  letter 

Buenos  Ayres,  Cuato  ps.,  ver- 
milion   ..... 

Ditto,  Cinco  ps.,  buff  . 

St.  Vincent,  4d.  on  is.,  unused     . 

Ditto,  5s.,  rose-red,  unused  . 

Tobago,  £\,  mauve,  wmk.  CC, 
unused  .... 

Ditto,  CA,  6d.,  brown,  unused     . 

Turks  Islands,  provisional,  ^d ,  in 
black,  on  4d.,  grey,  strip  of  6 
showing  varieties,  unused 

New  Zealand,  id.,  red./r/«r(-, perf. 

South  Australia,  1855,  imperf,  i/-, 
violet,  no  gum 

Tasmania,  ist  issue,  id.,  blue, 
unused  .... 

Western  Australia,  2d.,  violet,  error 

St.  Helena,  perf  i2.},short  line,  i/-, 

black  and  green,  unused       .     17  10    o 


19 

0 

0 

10 

0 

0 

II 

10 

0 

10 

15 

0 

23 

10 

0 

10 

0 

0 

II 

10 

0 

70 

0 

0 

12 

0 

0 

15 

0 

0 

5 

0 

0 

14 

5 

0 

IS 

0 

0 

14 

0 

0 

7 

0 

0 

16 

10 

0 

9 

0 

0 

23 

0 

0 

II 

10 

0 

15 

10 

0 

THE 


3mAm  f  Mlati^li^t 


THE    MONTHLY    JOURNAL    OF 


THE    PHILATELIC   SOCIETY,    LONDON. 


Vol.   VI. 


AUGUST,    1897. 


No.   68. 


^t  ^adx  %]^tKi). 


HE  heading  of  these  remarks,  fairly  famiHar  to  those  who 
have  followed  the  fortunes  of  this  Journal,  scarcely  represents 
with  sufficient  force  the  predicament  of  the  Philatelic  barque 
to-day — which  is  almost  on  the  breakers  !  We  refer  to  the 
waves  of  speculative  and  unnecessary  issues  which  threaten 
to  break  up  the  general  collector,  and  make  all  serious 
Philatelists  naught  but  specialists  From  all  quarters  comes 
news  of  spurious  and  postally  unnecessary  issues,  calculated 
to  turn  Philately  to  ridicule — New  South  Wales,  Newfound- 
land, Canada,  great  Colonies  that  should  be  above  such 
practices — Tonga  (from  whom  anything  may  be  expected), 
and  now  St.  Kitts  and  Brazil,  are  all  recent  examples  of 
egregious  speculative  issues. 

The  Dominion  of  Canada,  as  the  most  important  Colony  of  the  British 
Empire,  has  indeed  presented  a  sorry  spectacle.  The  appearance  of  the 
series  with  the  dual  portrait  of  Her  Majesty — beautiful  as  are  the  stamps — 
presents  all  the  worst  features  of  speculative  issues.  It  appears,  moreover, 
that  the  limitation  of  their  currency  came  as  a  great  surprise  to  Canadian 
Philatelists,  and  evoked  their  strenuous  protests.  Had  these  stamps  been 
permanent,  little  could  have  been  said  beyond  the  fact  of  the  face-values 
ranging  so  high,  but  with  a  user  allowed  of  but  a  few  weeks,  and  with  the 
numbers  issued,  appavently  carefully  calculated  to  invite  official  speculations 
at  the  expense  of  collectors,  the  whole  scliemc  is  one  that  reflects  the  gravest 
discredit  upon  the  Canadian  Postal  authorities.  The  comments  hereon  in  the 
English  and  American  Philatelic  Press  are  as  numerous  as  they  are  severe 
and  well  merited.  From  among  many  such  we  would  quote  the  following 
excerpt  from  Hm^pcrs  Round  Table,  which  is  especially  suggestive  : 

"  The  great  conundrum  in  the  stamp  world  is,  '  What  has  become  of  the  Jubilee 
\  c.  Stamps  of  Canada?'  One  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  were  printed,  25,000  were 
saved  for  complete  sets,  leaving  125,000  to  be  sold  singly.     So  far  the  largest  number 


230  THE  ROCK  AHEAD. 

known  to  have  been  sold  to  any  one  person  is  ten.  I  have  been  at  considerable 
trouble  and  expense  to  discover  the  whereabouts  of  the  remainder.  I  have  written  to 
one  hundred  postmasters  of  large  towns,  and  every  one  has  informed  me  that  none 
were  issued  to  their  office  except  in  sets.  Their  letters  bear  every  evidence  of  truth, 
and  I  fully  believe  them.  Small  numbers,  a  few  thousand  stamps,  were  issued  to 
Montreal,  Quebec,  St.  John,  and  other  large  cities.  This  would  leave  fully  100,000 
unaccounted  for.  Who  has  them  ?  They  may  have  been  secured  without  notoriety, 
but  they  cannot  be  sold  the  same  way." 

We  refer  elsewhere  to  the  New  South  Wales  Hospital  Stamps,  which 
in  their  way  are  almost  reprehensible,  and  it  is  much  to  be  regretted 
that  the  New  South  Wales  Government  cannot  be  better  advised  by  the 
leading  Australian  Philatelists. 

The  Society  for  the  Suppression  of  Speculative  Stamps  was  expressly 
founded  to  combat  these  issues,  and  it  is  high  time  that  it  vindicated  its 
title,  or  else  made  room  for  some  other  body  who  will  judicially  weigh  all 
new  issues  and  give  their  opinions  thereon  to  the  Philatelic  body  in  general. 
Mr.  E.  J.  Nankivell,  in  the  American  Journal  of  Philately  of  this  month,  has 
some  vigorous  and  sensible  remarks  hereon,  which  we  cordially  endorse, 
especially  when  he  states  that  the  movement  must  not  be  allowed  to  collapse 
because  some  dealers  have  fallen  away.  A  general  meeting  of  all  the 
members  must  be  called  as  soon  as  the  season  commences — say  in  October 
— when  an  enunciation  should  be  made  of  the  principles  on  which  the 
Society  is  henceforward  to  be  conducted,  and  the  resignation  accepted  of 
all  those  who  cannot  subscribe  thereto.  The  position  of  those  members  of 
the  trade  who  have  been  loyal  to  the  movement  is  a  very  hard  and  invidious 
one,  and  it  seems  to  us  better  that  the  Society  should  be  composed  of 
collectors  only.  It  was  an  ambitious  attempt,  perhaps,  to  endeavour  to 
indicate  what  anyone  should  or  should  not  sell,  and  a  future  policy  of 
advice  and  information  only  will  be  safer,  which,  if  collectors  choose  to 
neglect,  will  be  their  own  affair.  We  trust  that  these  opinions  will  not 
be  held  as  inferring  any  antipathy  to  new  issues  as  such  ;  on  the  contrary, 
we  hold  that  the  appearance  of  fresh  stamps,  genuinely  issued  for  dynastic, 
currency,  or  postal  changes,  is  a  most  valuable  and  attractive  recruiting  agent 
for  our  ranks.  Per  contra,  the  flooding  of  the  market  with  pretty  pictures 
tends  to  degrade  Philately  to  the  level  of  Liebig  picture  collecting,  and  viust 
inevitably  have  the  worst  possible  effect  upon  the  fiitiire  of  the  dealers.  It 
will  either  cause  the  retirement  of  many  of  their  best  customers,  or  compel 
them  to  restrict  still  more  the  limits  of  their  acquisitions.  We  cannot  too 
strongly  urge  upon  all  those — and  they  are  many— who  have  a  heavy 
financial  stake  in  Philately,  that  confidence  forms  the  foundation  of  stamp 
collecting,  and  that  if  this  were  seriously  shaken  the  whole  fabric  would 
collapse. 


[        231        ] 


C^e  Host  Car!trs  of  IJclxr  South  W&idtB. 


By  a.  F.  basset  HULL. 


I.    INLAND  SINGLE  CARDS. 

ilf/'OWARDS  the  end  of  1874  the  introduction  of  the  Post  Card 
,  m      system  occupied  some  attention,  but  it  was  not  until   Sep- 
ijll*.      tember,  1875,  that  it   was  definitely  decided   to   issue   Post 
g         Cards  for  use  within  the  Colony  of  New  South  Wales. 
M  Although  the  Postage  Act,  31  Vict.  No.  4,  did  not  specifi- 

='•  cally  authorize  the  issue  of  Post  Cards,  it  was  considered  that 
Section  16  of  that  Act  gave  sufficient  authority  for  their  issue.  This  section 
was  the  one  empowering  the  making  of  postage  stamps,  and  was  worded  : 

"  The  Governor  with  the  advice  aforesaid  (of  the  Executive  Council)  shall  cause  or 
shall  authorize  the  Postmaster-General  or  the  Inspector  of  Stamps  or  the  Commissioner 
of  Stamps  to  cause  postage  stamps  indicating  such  amounts  of  postage  as  may  be  from 
time  to  time  deemed  necessary  for  the  purposes  of  this  Act  to  be  made  and  sold  to  any 
person  applying  for  the  same." 

Authority  for  "  the  introduction  of  a  system  permitting  the  circulation 
within  the  Colony  of  Penny  Post  Cards,  specially  printed  so  as  to  provide  on 
the  face  of  each  card  the  address  to  which  it  is  intended  to  be  sent,  and  on 
the  reverse  side  thereof  for  the  matter  of  the  communication,"  was  obtained 
from  the  Executive  Council  on  the  17th  September,  1875. 

The  following  notice  was  published  in  the  Government  Gazette : 

"  General  Post  Office,  Sydney, 

"  Z^tk  SepUmder,  1875. 

"  His  Excellency  the  Governor,  with  the  advice  of  the  Executive  Council,  having 
been  pleased  to  approve  of  the  introduction  of  Post  Cards,  it  is  hereby  notified  for 
general  information,  that,  from  and  after  the  ist  proximo,  such  cards,  whether  official 
or  private,  being  each  impressed  with  a  penny  stamp,  may  be  transmitted  between 
places  in  the  Colony  of  New  South  Wales,  under  the  following  conditions  and 
regulations : — 

"  I.  The  front  or  stamped  side  of  the  card  to  be  for  the  address  only,  in  addition 
to  the  words  "  Post  Card."  There  must  be  nothing  else  written,  printed,  or  otherwise 
impressed  on  the  front  side  of  the  card,  nor  must  there  be  any  writing  or  printing 
across  the  stamp.  On  the  reverse  side  any  communication,  whether  of  the  nature  of 
a  letter  or  otherwise,  may  be  written  or  printed.  Nothing  whatever  may  be  attached, 
nor  may  the  card  be  folded,  cut,  or  in  any  other  respect  altered.  Adhesive  stamps 
will  not  be  accepted  in  payment  of  postage.  If  any  of  these  conditions  be  infringed 
the  card  will  be  charged  2d.  on  delivery. 

"  2.  No  card  other  than  those  issued  by  the  Government,  or  a  private  card 
impressed  with  a  penny  stamp,  under  the  special  authority  of  the  Postmaster-General, 
will  pass  under  a  penny  stamp,  if  it  bear  on  it  a  written  communication  of  the  nature 
of  a  letter. 

"3.  Should  a  Post  Card  be  observed  to  bear  upon  it  anything  of  an  obscene, 
libellous,  or  otherwise  obviously  objectionable  nature,  it  will  not  be  delivered. 


232  THE   POST  CARDS   OF  NEW  SOUTH   WALES. 

"  4.  When,  owing  to  a  great  and  unusual  influx  of  letters,  books,  &c.,  the  trans- 
mission or  delivery  of  the  letters  would  be  delayed  if  the  whole  mail  were  dealt  with 
without  distinction.  Post  Cards  may  be  kept  back  until  the  next  despatch  or  delivery. 

"  Official  cards  will  be  sold  in  packets  of  a  dozen  for  a  shilling  per  packet,  and 
will  not  be  sold  singly  at  post  offices.  For  information  as  to  the  conditions  under 
which  printed  cards  may  be  impressed  application  can  be  made  to  the  Secretary  to 
the  Post  Office.  u  j    p    Burns  " 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  date  of  issue  was  fixed  for  the  ist  October,  1875, 
and  essays  appear  to  have  been  submitted  in  anticipation  prior  to  Executive 
approval  being  obtained. 

These  essays  closely  resembled  the  card  as  actually  issued  in  general 
appearance.  The  stamp  in  the  right  upper  corner  was  a  transfer  from  the 
id.  adhesive  stamp  (type  of  1864).  The  Royal  Arms,  15  mm.  in  length,  were 
placed  in  the  centre  of  the  card.  "  Post  Card,"  in  sans-serif  capitals,  was 
above  the  Arms,  and  beneath  in  one  line,  italic  type,  was  the  inscription,  "  The 
Address  only  to  be  written  on  this  side."  Below  this  was  the  word  "  To  "  in 
large  script  type,  the  top  stroke  of  the  "  T  "  having  a  curled  flourish. 

The  whole  design  was  enclosed  in  a  "bamboo"  border  with  seven  sections, 
top  and  bottom,  the  centre  section  being  7  mm.  in  length  and  the  others 
18  mm.  The  side  borders  were  composed  of  six  sections,  the  four  centre  ones 
18  mm.  in  length  and  the  two  end  ones  7  mm.  These  borders  crossed  each 
other  at  the  corners,  forming  an  "  Oxford  "  frame,  of  which  the  vertical  sides 
projected  further  than  the  horizontal. 

These  essays  were  printed  in  several  colours  on  coarse,  thick  buff  card 
and  thin  white  card,  little  thicker  than  ordinary  cream-laid  paper. 

Before  printing  for  use  this  design  was  modified.  The  Arms  were  reduced 
to  13mm.;  the  word  "To''  was  printed  in  ordinary  italic  type,  and  the 
larger  sections  of  the  top  and  bottom  borders  were  reduced  to  16  mm.  ;  the 
side  borders  were  formed  of  five  sections  only,  three  of  16  mm.  and  two  of 
1 1  mm.,  and  the  projecting  parts  of  the  frame  were  made  of  equal  lengths. 

The  card  was  lithographed  at  the  Government  Printing  Office,  Sydney, 
in  pink,  on  very  thin  white  card,  little  thicker  than  drawing  paper.  The 
border  was  112x80  mm.  from  point  to  point,  and  the  card  was  cut  to  size 
122  X  85  mm. 

Specimens  were  submitted  to  the  Mail  Branch  officials  on  the  29th 
September,  1875,  and  the  issue  to  the  public  took  place  on  the  ist  October. 

There  is  another  type  of  essay  which  is  perhaps  better  known  to  collectors 
than  the  one  above  described.  In  this  card  the  word  "  To  "  is  in  small  script 
type  with  a  German  T  (S).  The  end  sections  of  top  and  bottom  borders 
retain  the  projecting  halves  of  the  joint,  while  the  ends  of  the  side  borders, 
like  the  first  essay  and  the  issued  card,  have  these  half-joints  removed. 

This  essay  is  only  found  in  pink  on  the  same  quality  of  paper  as  the 
issued   card. 

The  thin  card  on  which  the  first  issue  was  printed  gave  rise  to  some  dis- 
satisfaction, but  there  was  no  supply  of  thicker  card  available  in  the  Colony 
at  the  time.  A  supply  was  at  once  ordered  from  England,  and  at  the  time  it 
was  received   and  adopted   for  use  the  size  of  the  design  was  reduced  to 


THE  POST  CARDS  OF  NEW  SOUTH   WALES.  233 

115  X  68  mm.,  and  the  inscriptions,  "The  Address  only  to  be  written  on  this 
side"  and  "To,"  were  printed  in  smaller  type.  There  are  two  types,  differing 
only  in  the  border.  In  the  first  the  top  and  bottom  borders  are  composed  of 
seven  sections,  six  being  18  mm.  in  length,  and  the  centre  one  6  mm.  The 
second  type  has  the  centre  section  9mm.  in  length,  both  top  and  bottom; 
otherwise  the  design  remained  the  same  as  in  the  first  type.  To  this 
similarity  in  design  may  be  attributed  the  reason  for  no  official  record 
being  made  of  the  alteration.     M.  Moens  gives  the  date  of  issue  as  February, 

1876,  and  taking  into  consideration  the  time  required  for  obtaining  a  supply 
of  card  from  England,  four  months  seems  a  reasonable  period  to  elapse. 
I  have  not  seen  any  earlier  dated  copies  on  the  thick  card  than  4th  July, 

1877,  but  Mr.  A.  J.  Taylor,  of  Sydney,  possesses  a  used  copy  of  the  first 
type,  printed  on  the  thin  card  of  the  first  issue,  dated  "Jordan's  Crossing"  (a 
post  office,  now  closed,  near  Moss  Vale),  "  17th  July,  1876."  This  must  not  be 
confused  with  the  "skinned"  cards,  which  are  common  enough,  either  unused 
or  with  the  communication  side  separated  from  the  address  side.  The  thick 
card  was  four-sheet  card,  and  the  two  outer  sheets  are  of  thin  surfaced  paper, 
quite  distinct  from  the  rough  paper  of  the  first  issue. 

Whether  this  thin  card  was  the  result  of  a  temporary  exhaustion  of  the 
thick  card,  or  actually  the  first  issue  of  the  reduced  design,  I  cannot  definitely 
say,  but  will  merely  chronicle  the  design  as  issued  in  February,  1876,  leaving 
the  question  of  priority  of  papers  to  be  settled  hereafter. 

It  appears  probable  that  both  types  were  printed  and  issued  simul- 
taneously, as  I  have  used  copies  of  Type  I.  dated  from  July,  1876,  to  January, 
1886,  and  of  Type  II.  from  September,  1879,  to  1888.  Type  I.,  however,  is 
decidedly  scarcer  than  Type  II. 

The  small  cards  were  generally  cut  to  size,  118  x  70  to  74  mm.,  differing 
especially  in  dimensions  in  the  case  of  cards  supplied  in  sheets  to  private 
persons,  and  cut  by  them.  The  design  was  reset  and  slightly  modified  by 
increasing  the  centre  section  of  the  top  and  bottom  borders  to  9  mm.,  the 
whole  borders  being  thus  increased  3  mm.  in  length.  I  do  not  know  the  exact 
date  on  which  this  change  took  place,  but  the  earliest  dated  copy  I  have  seen 
was  used  on  the  ist  September,  1879. 

During  the  eleven  years  this  card  remained  in  use  the  variety  in  quality 
of  card  used  naturally  differed  considerably.  Both  types  are  found  on  thick 
white,  yellowish,  and  bluish  card,  and  the  first  type  also  on  the  thin  card 
above  described. 

Both  types  were  lithographed,  and  the  shades  of  colour  vary  from  greyish 
pink  to  pink,  rose,  deep  rose,  and  almost  marone. 

Post  Cards  were  originally  intended  for  use  within  the  Colony  only,  and 
some  little  vexation  arose  through  the  posting  of  the  cards  to  the  other 
colonies.  These  were,  of  course,  treated  as  insufficiently  paid,  but  cases 
occurred  where  the  additional  postage  was  paid  in  adhesive  stamps.  These 
also  were  treated  as  insufficiently  paid,  the  other  colonies  declining  to  deliver 
them;  but  in  1876  Victoria  agreed  to  accept  them  as  letters,  provided  an 
additional  id.  stamp  was  affixed.  In  1877  South  Australia  also  fell  in  with 
this  arrangement,  and  in  1882  the  other  colonies  and  Fiji  signified  their 
willingness  to  adopt  the  same  arrangement.     From  the   ist  January,  1887, 


234  NEW  SOUTH   WALES  NOVELTIES. 

the  colonies  on  the  mainland  and  Tasmania  agreed  to  an  interchange  of  Post 
Cards  at  id.  each,  and  New  Zealand  joined  on  31st  October,  1889. 

Up  to  1879  Post  Cards  could  only  be  purchased  in  packets  of  twelve- 
Executive  approval  was  obtained  on  the  19th  August,  1879,  f^""  ^^  alteration 
in  the  regulations  permitting  the  sale  of  Post  Cards  singly,  and  the  change 
was  gazetted  as  follows  :  «  General  Post  Office,  Sydney, 

"post   cards.  "28///  August,   1879. 

"  It  is  hereby  notified  for  general  information,  that  His  Excellency  the  Governor, 
with  the  advice  of  the  Executive  Council,  has  approved  of  the  regulations  relating  to 
Post  Cards  being  so  amended  as  to  allow  them  to  be  purchased  singly  instead  of  in 
packets  of  not  less  than  a  dozen  as  at  present.  "  Saul  Samuel." 

In  September,  1887,3  suggestion  was  made  that  the  size  of  the  Post  Card 
might  be  increased  to  5^8  by  3^  inches.  The  suggestion  was  approved  by 
the  Postmaster-General  on  the  22nd  September,  and  a  proof  of  Post  Card  of 
increased  size  and  new  design  was  submitted  by  the  Government  printer  on 
the  loth  October,  1887.  The  new  design  was  approved  by  the  Postmaster- 
General  on  the  15  th  October,  1887,  and  the  issue  to  the  public  was  made 
immediately. 

There  was  no  border  to  the  design,  which  consisted  of  the  same  stamp  as 
on  last  card,  printed  in  the  extreme  right  upper  corner.  On  the  left  was 
a  representation  of  a  branch  and  flower-head  of  the  native  waratah  [Tdopca 
speciosissinid).  The  flower  is  conical  in  shape,  and  the  leaves  branch  out  in 
such  a  way  that  the  stalk  may  be  plainly  seen  throughout.  Between  stamp 
and  waratah  are  the  inscriptions,  in  three  lines,  "  New  South  Wales — Post 
(Arms)  Card — The  address  only  to  be  written  on  this  side." 

It  was  lithographed  in  bright  rose-pink  and  pale  pink  on  thick  white  and 
bluish  card,  cut  to  sizes  varying  between   151x80  mm.  and   151x86  mm. 

The  alteration  in  size  and  design  was  not  gazetted  or  officially  announced 
in  any  way.  (7;,  ^^  continued.) 


l^tto  Sjoiitlj  Malts  Hobtltus. 

E  alluded  briefly  in  our  last  issue  to  the  information  that 
reached  us  as  we  were  going  to  press  with  regard  to  the 
issue  of  three  stamps  of  fresh  design.  Our  Australian 
correspondent  kindly  furnished  us  with  a  proof  im- 
pression of  the  proposed  issue,  from  which  it  will  be 
seen  that  the  designs  are  certainly  novel,  although  we 
fear  that  the  printing  of  the  stamps  themselves  will  not  show  them  to  the 
same  advantage.  Our  old  friend  the  5s. — certainly  one  of  the  handsomest 
designs  that  ever  adorned  a  letter — has  also  been  reissued  in  its  Imperial 
purple,  and  will  be  warmly  welcomed  by  all  true  collectors.  We  append 
the  official  notice  of  the  issue,  from  which  we  gather  with  satisfaction  that  the 
issue  is  a  permanent  one  in  substitution  for  the  corresponding  current  values. 
Our  correspondent  writes:  "The  so-called  'Jubilee'  stamps  [referred  to 
in  our  last  issue]  will  not  be  issued  until  Tuesday,  the  22nd. 


NEW  SOUTH   WALES  NOVELTIES.  235 

"I  send  you  copy  c>{  Gazette  notice  re  the  issue  [which  follows].  The  colour 
of  the  2ld.  is  really  a  rich  mauve,  but  is  officially  termed  royal  purple. 
The  stamps  are  on  N  S  W  and  Crown  (II.)  paper,  perf  11  x  11^-.  The  5s. 
is  on  the  old  5s.  paper,  and  is  in  its  old  purple  colour.  I  think  the  perf 
is   II,  but  have  not  yet  been  able  to  gauge  it.     It  is,  of  course,  a  reissue, 

and  not  a  new  variety." 

"Postal  and  Electric  Telegraph  Department, 
"  General  Post  Office,  Sydney. 

^' idfth  June,   1897. 

"  His  Excellency  the  Governor,  with  the  advice  of  the  Executive  Council,  has, 
in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  16th  section  of  the  Postage  Act,  31  Vic. 
No.  4,  been  pleased  to  approve  of  the  issue  on  the  22nd  instant,  in  commemoration 
of  the  completion  of  the  sixtieth  year  of  Her  Majesty's  reign,  of  three  new  Postage 
Stamps  of  the  respective  values  of  One  Penny,  Two  Pence,  and  Two  Pence  Half- 
penny, and  the  reissue  of  the  Five  Shilling  Postage  Stamp  of  1861,  such  stamps 
to  be  substituted  for  the  stamps  of  similar  denominations  now  current. 

"A  description  of  the  new  stamps  is  given  below,  and  in  connection  with  their 
issue  it  is  hereby  notified  that  the  stamps  to  be  superseded  will  only  be  recognised 
as  valid  for  the  prepayment  of  postage  up  to  the  31st  December,  1897,  and  that 
from  the  ist  January,  1898,  any  of  such  stamps  still  remaining  in  the  hands  of  the 
public  may  be  exchanged  at  face  value  for  stamps  of  the  new  design. 


"The  central  device  is  a  shield  bearing  a  cross  charged  with  four  stars,  one  on 
each  arm,  and  a  lion  passant  regardatit  in  the  centre.  A  royal  crown  is  placed 
above  the  shield,  and  the  name  of  the  Colony  and  '  postage '  below.  A  figure 
denoting  the  value,  enclosed  in  an  oval,  is  in  each  angle  formed  by  the  base  of 
the  shield  and  the  inscription.  Ornamental  scroll  work  completes  the  design. 
Colour,  carmine. 

"description  of  two  penny  stamp. 

"A  profile  portrait  of  Her  Majesty  the  Queen  is  enclosed  in  a  rectangular  frame 
resting  upon  a  waratah  flower,  and  sprays  of  native  rose  spring  up  at  each  side. 
The  name  of  the  Colony  and  '  postage '  are  placed  above  the  portrait,  and  a  figure 
representing  the  value  is  placed  upon  the  waratah  flower.  These  details  are  enclosed 
in  an  ornamental  frame  superimposed  upon  a  cross,  the  end  of  each  arm,  charged 
with  a  star,  projecting  beyond  the  frame.  The  whole  is  enclosed  in  a  triple-lined 
rectangular  frame.     Colour,  blue. 

"description  of  two  pence  halfpenny  stamp. 

"  Upon  a  transverse  oblong,  enclosed  in  a  double-lined  frame,  is  a  large  profile 
portrait  of  Her  Majesty  the  Queen  in  outline,  occupying  the  right-hand  half  of  the 
stamp.  On  the  left  is  placed  the  name  of  the  Colony  and  'postage,'  in  four  lines 
in  white  on  a  background  of  solid  colour,  and  the  value  in  figures  is  beneath  the 
inscription.  The  stars  of  the  Southern  Cross  are  disposed  about  the  profile.  Colour, 
royal  purple.  "Joseph  Cook." 

In  our  last  issue  we  referred  to  a  scheme  for  the  issue  of  two  Hospital 
Stamps.  From  the  information  which  has  reached  us,  we  must  characterize 
the  scheme  as  a  poor  imitation  of  the  non-postal  labels  issued  in  connection 
with  H.R.H.  the  Prince  of  Wales'  Hospital  Fund,  and  as  affording  an 
opportunity  for  speculation  under  the  guise  of  rendering  aid  to  a  local 
hospital.     Neither  the  public  nor  stamp  collectors  could  grumble  at  the  sale 


236  NEW  SOUTH   WALES  NOVELTIES. 

of  labels,  otherwise  receipts  in  acknowledgment  of  donations  to  a  charitable 
institution,  but  all  Philatelists  will  unite  in  condemning  the  action  of  the  New 
South  Wales  Post  Office  in  selling  stamps  of  a  facial  value  of  id.  and  2|d.  at 
1 100  per  cent,  above  their  stated  postal  value!  These  labels  bear  a  double 
face  value:  firstly,  the  postal  franking  values,  respectively  id.  and  2id. ;  and, 
secondly,  the  selling  price  at  hospital  value  of  is.  and  2s.  6d.  It  therefore 
remains  that  one  twelfth  only  of  these  labels  has  any  postal  or  Philatelic 
significance.  We  consider  that  the  issue  of  these  stamps  with  a  limited  postal 
franking  power  is  a  great  discredit  to  the  New  South  Wales  postal  authorities, 
and  we  trust  that  all  Philatelists  will  refuse  to  accept  them.  We  are  informed 
on  good  authority  from  Australia  that  influence  of  no  mean  power  was  brought 
to  bear  upon  the  postal  authorities  in  regard  to  this  issue,  and  that  it  is  hard 
that  the  former  should  have  to  bear  all  the  onus — but  this  is  beyond  our 
province  as  Philatelists.  Both  in  Australia  and  here  we  are  confident  that 
this  issue  will  meet  v^^ith  profound  dissatisfaction  and  contempt. 

In  justice  to  the  Sydney  postal  authorities  we  append  their  official 
notice  (the  italics  being  our  own) : 

"  Consumptives'  Hospital  Postage  Stamps. — The  Postmaster-General,  at  the 
request  of  His  Excellency  the  Governor,  has  made  arrangements  for  the  issue  of  two 
special  postage  stamps  designed  to  enable  charitable  and  loyal  persons  to  at  once 
contribute  to  the  fund  for  establishing  the  Consumptives'  Hospital,  and  to  obtain  an 
attractive  souvenir  of  Her  Majesty's  Record  Reign. 

"The  stamps  will  have  the  postal  values  of  id.  and  2|d.,  but  will  be  sold  to  the 
public  at  IS.  and  2s.  6d.  respectively;  the  amount  thus  realized  in  excess  of  the  postal 
value  will  be  devoted  to  the  Hospital  Fund. 

"  The  design  for  the  is.  stamp  has  for  a  central  vignette  an  angelic  figure  supporting 
in  her  arms  an  exhausted  being,  helpless  and  in  need  of  sympathy.*  The  vignette  is 
surrounded  by  an  ornamental  frame,  from  the  left  upper  corner  of  which  springs  the 
initial  letter  '  C '  of  the  title  '  Consumptives'  Home,'  which  occupies  the  top  of  the 
frame;  and  in  the  right  upper  corner  is  shown  a  portrait  of  Her  Majesty  the  Queen. 
At  the  sides  the  figures  '1837,  1897'  are  enclosed  in  diamond  outlines.  In  the  two 
lower  corners  the  value,  'is.,'  is  shown,  while  the  space  between  is  occupied  by  the 
inscription,  '  N.  S.  W.,  Postage  One  Penny.'  The  frame  is  in  dark  green,  and  the 
central  vignette  in  sepia. 

"In  the  2S.  6d.  stamp  the  motive  of  'restoration'  or  'rebuilding'  is  typified  by 
two  figures  draped  in  white,  the  strong  gently  leading  the  weak,  as  she  points  to  the 
motto,  '  Redifico.'  This  vignette  is  placed  in  a  diamond  frame,  above  which  are  the 
words  '  Consumptives'  Home '  inscribed  on  a  riband.  A  circle  of  gold  forms  the  back- 
ground, upon  which  the  flannel  flower  and  waratah  are  displayed.  In  the  left  lower 
corner  is  a  medaUion  bearing  the  figures  '  2/6,'  while  the  base  of  the  design  is 
inscribed  'N.  S.  W.,  Postage  2jd.'  This  stamp  is  printed  in  gold,  blue,  rose,  and 
carmine.  Both  designs  are  four  times  the  size  of  an  ordinary  postage  stamp,  and  are 
the  work  of  Mr.  Charles  Turner,  of  Sydney. 

"  The  issue  throughout  the  colony  will  be  strictly  limited  to  10,000  of  the  2s.  6d. 
and  40,000  of  the  is.  value.  The  is.  stamp  will  be  on  sale  at  the  General  Post  Office 
on  Tuesday,  and  arrangements  are  now  in  progress  for  the  production  of  the  2s.  6d. 
stamp  at  the  Government  Printing  Office,  and  it  is  anticipated  that  it  will  be  ready  on 
Saturday  next.  Supplies  of  both  values  will  be  obtainable  at  Post  Offices  throughout 
the  colony  on  and  after  the  28th  instant.  The  period  of  sale  and  validity  for  postal 
use  is  to  be  limited  to  tzvo  months." 

*  This  is  possibly  meant  to  represent  the  Goddess  of  Philately! — [Ed.] 


[      237      ] 


fbilatcitt  Holes. 


Note.  —  The  co-operation  of  Philatelists  is  invited  in  order  to  wake  this  column  oj  a  varied 

and  interestimr  nature. 


SIERRA   LEONE   ^s.    ON  \s.   OF  MAY,    1884. 

R.  Geo.  Campbell  writes  us  as  follows  : 

"I    have  just   seen    article   in  the   London  Philatelist.     When    this 


[gl 


stamp  was  issued  I  wrote  from  Paris  to  the  Colonial  Secretary  at  Freetown, 
and  asked  him  to  send  me  a  few,  provided  they  were  postage  stamps.  He 
replied  stating  that  this  stamp  had  been  issued  ior  fiscal  purposes  only.  This 
letter  I  forwarded  at  the  time  to  Mr.  Burnett,  then  Hon.  Sec.  of  the  London 
Society.  The  Colonial  Secretary  was  Mr.  Griffith,  promoted  later  on  to 
Mauritius." 

Mr.  Campbell's  information  is  in  direct  contradiction  of  the  surmise  of  the 
present  postal  authorities  in  Sierra  Leone,  as  detailed  in  our  last  issue  on 
p.  221. 

#rcasraniil  l^otes. 

UGANDA   COWRIE  STAMPS. 

HE  exceedingly  primitive-looking  labels  shown  by  Mrs.  Tebay  at  the 
Philatelic  Exhibition  last  month  excited  many  curious  comments,  and 
as  they  were  unfortunately  received  too  late  for  insertion  in  the  Catalogue 
our  esteemed  correspondent's — Mrs.  Tebay 's — letter  will  be  read  with  interest. 
Whatever  their  Philatelic  value  may  be,  these  cowrie  postal  labels  are  cer- 
tainly of  great  curiosity. 

"  This  is  to  ask  you  to  give  some  notice  of  the  Uganda  stamps  in  the 
London  Philatelist.  My  card  was  too  late  to  be  included  in  the  Exhibition 
Catalogue,  because  I  could  not  get  the  stamps,  which  I  had  lent,  returned  in 
time. 

"I  think  that  they  were  among  the  greatest  curiosities  there,  the  values 
of  the  first  and  second  issue  being  in  cowries.  They  were  first  made  by  the 
Rev.  Ernest  Millar,  of  the  Church  Missionary  Society,  by  Government 
authority,  in   1894,  for  local  use. 

"  The  typewriting  was  very  troublesome,  and  he  could  not  engage  to 
make  any  for  sale  to  dealers,  or  even  for  private  collectors,  so  that  they  are 
very  scarce,  but  now  that  they  are  printed  they  will  become  commoner.  The 
early  cancelling  was  only  by  pencil  marks. 

"  The  great  advance  made  in  the  Uganda  Protectorate  seems  but  little 
known  in  England.  Both  Catholic  and  Protestant  missionaries  have  done 
wonders,  the  population  being  large  and  the  natives  very  intelligent. 

"You  may  form  some  idea  of  the  work  done  when  I  tell  you  that  the 
Church   Missionary   Society  alone  have  more  than  200  churches  (not  very 


238  PHILATELIC  NOTES. 

grand  ones  I  imagine  !)  in  the  Protectorate.  The  largest,  I  think  at  Mengo, 
will  hold  (so  says  Bishop  Tucker)  5000  people. 

"  Some  of  the  stamps  have  the  name  of  settlements  written  upon  them 
in  pencil,  and  one  or  two  show  an  attempt  at  perforation. 

"As  the  earliest  effort  to  introduce  postal  advantages  among  natives  in 
Africa,  these  stamps  will  always  be  interesting,  and  I  think  you  will  agree 
with  me  that  it  is  due  to  Mr.  Millar  that  they  should  be  noticed,  who,  I  ought 
to  add,  has  expressed  no  wish  on  the  subject." 


PRESENTATION  TO  H.R.H.    THE  DUKE  OF   YORK  OF 
CANADIAN  STAMPS. 


>  generally  stated  in  the  columns  of  the  daily  organs  of  the  press, 
on  behalf  of  the  Dominion  Government  a  presentation  was  made 
on  the  lOth  of  this  month  to  the  Duke  of  York,  President  of  the  Royal 
Philatelic  Society,  of  a  specially-bound  volume  of  the  Canadian  Jubilee 
Stamp  issue.  The  volume,  which  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Duke  by 
Captain  H.  Bate,  Aide-de-Camp  to  Sir  Wilfrid  Laurier,  is  entirely  the 
product  of  Canadian  workmanship,  and  is  suitably  inscribed  with  the  names 
of  leading  Government  officials. 

It  is  with  great  pleasure  that  we  note  the  prefix  of  "  Royal "  to  the 
Philatelic  Society,  but  fear  that  it  is  a  little  previous.  The  Society  is  doubly 
honoured  by  its  Royal  ofificers,  and  would  be  proud  to  have  the  added 
distinction,  but  we  have  ccrtes  no  official  confirmation  thereof. 


THE  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION. 

E  have  to  apologise  to  our  readers  for  the  late  appearance  of  the  July 
number  of  this  Journal,  which  was  caused  by  the  wish  to  make  an 
inclusive  and  exhaustive  report  of  this  memorable  event.  In  order  to 
accomplish  this  the  quantity  of  reading  matter  was  nearly  doubled ;  but 
by  the  aid  of  the  official  Catalogue  we  trust  that  the  vast  majority  of  the 
important  exhibits  will  be  found  enumerated  in  our  columns.  The  closing 
scenes  of  the  Exhibition  were  marked  by  a  somewhat  increased  attendance 
of  visitors,  and  by  yet  another  heavy  labour  on  the  part  of  the  Executive 
Committee — that  of  the  taking  down  and  returning  the  exhibits.  That 
this  has  been  so  successfully  accomplished  is  due  to  the  marvellous  energy 
and  system  of  Mr.  J.  H.  Tilleard  and  Mr.  Gordon  Smith,  assisted  by  other 
Committee-men.  Wc  are  but  embodying  the  general  expression  of  opinion 
in  urging  that  later  on,  when  the  accounts  are  presented  and  closed  up — 
as  we  quite  hope  on  a  satisfactory  basis — some  step  should  be  taken  to 
evince  and  perpetuate  in  a  pleasing  form  the  gratitude  and  appreciation  of 
all  ranks  towards  Mr.  Tilleard  and  Mr.  Gordon  Smith,  for  their  unselfish 
and  absolute  devotion  to  the  interests  of  the  London  Philatelic  Exhibition 
of  1897. 


[     239     ] 

— ♦ — 

CATALOGUE  OF  MESSRS.  STANLEY  GIBBONS,  Ltd.,  Part  IIL* 

"'^^IP^^^^HE  concluding  portion  of  the  1897  Catalogue  of  this  firm 
ml  is  issued  in  a  white  cover,  thus  uniting  the  national  colours 
iiul  '"  ^^^^  three  sections,  and  comprises  282  pages — the  total  for 
^  the  combined  work  being  no  less  than  843— which  will  afiford 
m  an  estimation  of  the  labour  involved  in  "  century-end  "  cata- 
S—,  logues.  It  appears  that  this  portion  will  only  be  published 
biennially — for  which  small  mercy  thanks !  We  are  over-catalogued  nowa- 
days ;  the  market  wants  rest,  prices  require  time  to  become  solid  and  real, 
and  the  whole  Philatelic  community  would  be  benefited  if  the  leading  firms 
would  for  a  while  cease  the  fierce  struggle  of  Price  List  competition. 

Like  its  predecessors,  this  portion  shows  great  improvement  in  paper, 
printing,  and  arrangement,  but  notably  in  the  illustrations,  which  although 
mostly  necessarily  reduced  in  size,  are  otherwise  exact  reproductions,  Part 
III.  being,  in  our  opinion,  the  best  illustrated  of  the  different  sections.  The 
system  of  grouping  is  again  followed,  in  the  present  instance,  however, 
requiring  frequent  reference  to  the  excellent  index  to  ascertain  the  location 
of  some  countries.  The  envelopes  are  perforce  not  so  exhaustively  treated 
as  the  cards — notably  the  United  States — but  amply  detailed  for  the 
ordinary  collector. 

The  fault  of  Messrs.  Stanley  Gibbons'  Catalogues,  from  the  general 
collector's  aspect,  is  the  inclusion  of  too  much,  which  to  the  non-specialist 
has  an  alarming  tendency.  In  many  countries  a  footnote  could  be  added 
as  to  additional  varieties  without  listing  in  detail,  and  the  local  and  specula- 
tive stamps  "  never  would  be  missed."  As  an  example,  in  the  present  case 
the  excellently  written  and  illustrated  list  of  the  cards  of  our  own  country 
contains  also  full  illustrations  of  the  inscription  on  the  private  embossed 
card  of  1872 — of  absolutely  no  Philatelic  value  beyond  the  impressed  stamp. 
The  Post  Card  List,  by  its  copious  illustrations  and  succinct  lists,  should 
do  much  to  rehabilitate  a  somewhat  neglected  but  very  interesting  branch 
of  Philately. 

MR.  W.  MORLEY'S  CATALOGUE.f 

The  increasing  interest  taken  in  the  stamps  of  Great  Britain,  as  evidenced 
at  the  recent  Philatelic  Exhibition,  is  without  doubt  due  to  the  enterprise 
and  energy  of  firms  such  as  Mr.  W.  Morley,  Mr.  H.  L.  Ewen,  and  Messrs. 
H.  Hilckes  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  who  have  successfully  laboured  to  create  a  distinct 
school  of  collectors  for  our  own  country's  stamps.  When  this  is  remembered, 
there  is  perhaps  less  reason  to  look  askance  at  the  innumerable  and — except 
to  the  eyes  of  the  special  specialist^ — trivial  varieties  that  are  chronicled  in 
the  Catalogue  of  British  Stamps  and  Obliterations.  Mr.  Morley  is  om- 
nivorous. Within  his  186  pages  are  noted  Stamps  for  Postage,  Telegraphs, 
Revenue,  Fiscal  purposes,  Railways,  Circular  Delivery  Companies,  Colleges, 

*  Priced  Catalogue  (Pait  III.)  of  Envelopes  and  Wrappers,  Section  I.  ;  Post  Cards  and  Letter 
Cards,  Section  II.     Stanley  Gibbons,  Ltd.,  391,  Strand,  London,  W.C. 

t  Catalogue  and  Price  List  of  the  Stamps  of  Great  Britain.  Walter  Moklev,  186,  West  Green 
Road,  Tottenham,  London,  N. 


240  REVIEWS. 

and  many  others.  The  variation  of  the  letters  in  the  angles  is  noted, 
lists  of  the  Colonial  postmarked  varieties  of  obliteration  are  given,  and 
control  letters,  marginal  borders,  and  private  firms'  advertisements  will  also 
be  found  ;  in  short,  everything  that  a  collector  cotdd  possibly  want  Mr. 
Morley,  with  profound  commercial  foresight,  duly  provides  for.  A  notable 
innovation  is  the  division  of  both  unused  and  used  into  two  grades  accord- 
ing to  condition — in  which  Mr.  Morley  is  fully  justified  by  the  modern  trend. 
In  almost  every  respect  this  second  edition  is  an  improvement  on  its  fore- 
runner; the  size  has  been  reduced  to  the  accepted  pocket  dimensions,  the 
typography  and  general  arrangement  are  clear  and  lucid,  the  book  is  neatly 
turned  out  in  its  green  cloth  cover,  and  altogether  is  a  volume  that  cannot 
fail  to  have  attraction  for  all  those  who  are  patriotic  collectors. 

MESSRS.  SENF'S  CAT/.LOGUE.* 

Violet  is  the  hue  that  Messrs.  Senf  affect  this  year ;  the  rainbow  will 
be  represented  in  good  time  on  our  bookshelves.  As  in  previous  editions, 
there  is  much  to  praise  and  but  little  to  deprecate — notably  in  the  Philatelic 
line.  The  deprecations  even  as  regards  the  financial  line  must  now  be 
moderated,  as  it  is  evident  that  in  many  cases,  e.g.  Heligoland,  United 
States,  and  several  British  colonies,  Messrs.  Senf  have  wisely  caught  on  the 
spirit  of  the  times,  which  is  all  against  unnatural  and  inflated  rising  of  the 
prices  of  stamps.  A  quick  rise  means  frequently  a  quick  fall  ;  a  steady 
increment  means  confidence  and  maintenance  of  value.  The  prices  quoted, 
notably  for  many  of  the  best  German  and  other  European  countries'  stamps 
in  unused  condition,  would  however,  if  procurable,  still  find  ample  givers. 

As  regards  their  prices  there  can  be  no  doubt,  as  we  have  said  on  previous 
occasions,  Messrs.  Senf  attempt  too  much,  and  in  pricing  every  stamp  they 
must  frequently  "  give  themselves  away."  Quotations  for  the  great  rarities, 
especially  unused,  are  pure  guesses,  and  must  weaken  the  faith  of  the  reader 
as  to  the  general  accuracy  of  the  prices.  One  example  only  would  we 
give  in  support  of  our  remarks.  Mauritius,  first  state  of  the  plate,  2d.,  is 
quoted  in  "  Senf,"  unused  £1^  los.  od.,  and  used  £,<).  We  have  seen 
recently  such  specimens  readily  sold,  in  open  market,  at  £\AfO  and  £6C) 
respectively !  There  are,  however,  but  few  blots  on  the  escutcheon  of  the 
noted  "  Senf,"  and  we  congratulate  the  publishers  once  more  on  the  splendid 
production. 

Among  the  best  features  presented  in  this  excellent  Catalogue  are  the 
practical  and  concise  notes  so  freely  interspersed,  which  in  the  present 
edition  have  been  considerably  extended,  thus,  as  we  have  elsewhere  said, 
obviating  the  inclusion  of  superfluous  small  varieties — in  the  eyes  of  the 
general  collector,  for  whom  in  the  main  such  catalogues  are  written. 
Another  excellent  feature  is  the  distinguishing  mark  placed  against  Jubilee 
and  speculative  issues.  Many  of  the  countries'  lists  have,  moreover,  been 
either  extended  or  rewritten,  and  from  a  general  Philatelic  aspect  there 
is  but  little  improvement  to  be  made.  The  Catalogue  is  a  marvel  of 
clean,  legible  printing.  With  its  900  pages  of  thin  paper  zi'ithoiit  bulk — and 
a  credit  even  to  Leipsic — it  is  crammed  with  information  on  all  points,  and 
this  edition  but  enhances  the  high  reputation  it  possesses  throughout  the 
stamp  collectors'  world. 

*  Illustrated  Postage  Stamp  Catalogue,  1S97.     GEiiRiDER  Senf,  Leipsic. 


[        241         ] 


^ein  Issxtcs. 


NOTES    OF    NEW,    AND    VARIATIONS   OF    CURRENT,    ISSUES. 
(Varieties  of  Obsolete  Stamps,  and  Discoveries,  will  be  found  under  "Philatelic  Notes." 

We  do  not  profess  to  chronicle  everything,  but,  with  the  kind  help  of  correspondents,  are  desirous  that 
all  the  important  novelties  may  he  included.  Speculative  stamps — i.e.  those  not  really  required  for 
postal  purposes — will  be  considered  on  their  merits,  and  Jubilee  issues  will  not  be  chronicled. 

Members  of  the  London  Philatelic  Society,  and  other  readers  generally,  are  invited  to  co-operate  with  tis 
in  making  the  columns  as  interesting  as  possible.  Our  foreign  readers  can  especially  help  us  in 
this  direction,  by  sending  copies  of  any  official  documents  relative  to  changes  in  the  current  issues, 
or  early  intimation  of  any  new  issue,  accompanied,  when  possible,  by  a  specimen  ;  such  information 
will  be  duly  credited  to  the  correspondent,  and,  if  desired,  the  specimen  promptly  returned. 
Address:  Editor  "London  Philatelist,"  Effingham  House,  Arundel  Street,  Strand, 
London,  W.C. 


BRITISH    EMPIRE. 

British  Bechuanaland. — Of  the  stamp 
illustrated  last  month  there  are  two  varieties, 
the  one  with  a  space  measuring  13^  mm. 
between  "British"  and  "Bechuanaland,"  and 
the  other  with  a  space  measuring  only 
io|  mm. 

Great  Britain. — The  id.  adhesive  has 
been  issued  surcharged  "  Govt.  Parcels." 

Goz't.  Parcels  Stamps,     id.,  lilac,  black  surch. 

Labuan. — The  same  information  included 
under  North  Borneo  applies  here  also  ! 

Mauritius. — We  noticed  in  the  exhibit 
of  Messrs.  De  La  Rue  &  Co.  at  the  Exhibi- 
tion the  following  additional  values  of  the 
"  Arms "  type,  which  no  doubt  are  by  this 
time  current  in  the  Colony.  The  stamps 
are  of  large  size. 

Adhesives.     i  rupee,  green  and  black. 

2  rupees  50  c,  lilac  and  carmine. 
S      ,,       green  and  blue. 

Newfoundland.— This  issue  certainly  is 
as  superlative  as  it  is  superfluous,  but  up  to 
the  present  no  definite  news  has  reached  us 
regarding  the  standing  of  these  stamps 
(alluded  to  last  month).  From  Messrs. 
Whitfield  King  &  Co.  we  have  received  a 
complete  set  of  these,  and  append  a  list  of 
the  values  and  colours.  All  the  stamps  are 
perf.  12,  and  apparently  have  no  watermark. 

A  dhcsivcs. 

1  c,  green  ;  Queen. 

2  c,  carmine  ;  Cabot. 

3  c,  ultramarine  ;  Cape  Boitavista. 

4  c,  olive-green  ;  Caribou  Iiujiting. 

5  c,  violet :  Iili7iin^. 

6  c,  red-brown  ;  Hogging. 
8  c,  orange  ;  Fishing, 

10  c,  black-brown  ;  Cabot's  ship,  the  ".Matthem." 


12  c,  deep  blue  ;  Ptarmigan. 
15  c,  vermilion  ;  Seals. 
24  c,  mauve  ;  Salmon  fishing. 
30  c.,  grey-black  ;  Seat  of  the  Colony. 
35  c,  brick-red  ;  Coast  Scenery. 
60  c  ,  sepia;  Henry  VII.,  ivho granted  Cluirter  to 
Cabot. 

New  South  Wales. — Reference  will  be 
found  elsewhere  to  the  new  issues  of  this 
Colony,  briefly  referred  to  last  month.  We 
append  illustrations,  from  proof  impressions, 
of  the  new  designs  for  the  regular  issue,  the 
5s.  being  of  the  i860  type. 

A  dhesives. 

id.,  carmine,  wmk.  NSW  and  Crown,  Type  II.,  perf. 
iiXiii. 

2d.,  deep  blue,  wmk.  NSW  and  Crown,  Type  II.,  perf. 
iiXiiJ. 

22d.,  royal  purple,  wmk  NSW  and  Crown,  Type  II., 
perf.  II X 115. 

5s.,  dark  purple,  wmk.  5s.,  Type  II.,  perf.  115. 

We  hear  that  the  stamps  on  the  id.  post- 
card, envelope,  and  wrapper,  and  the  2d. 
envelope,  will  be  changed  to  the  types  of 
the  new  stamps  as  soon  as  the  stock  in  hand 
at  present  is  exhausted,  which  will  probably 
be  in  about  three  months. 


irw^B* 

m«v 

SOUTH- 
bvALES'f^ 

3 

POSTAGE   - 

1  ■-'-  -     -^ 

242 


NEW  ISSUES. 


North  Borneo.— Messrs  Whitfield  King 
&  Co.  write  us  that  the  i8  c.  and  24  c.  stamps 
have  been  withdrawn  owing  to  the  printers 
having  omitted  the  words  "  Postage  and 
Revenue"  from  the  latter  stamp,  and  mis- 
printed the  same  words  "Postal  Revenue" 
on  the  former ! 

Rhodesia. — The  Australian  Philatelist 
announces  the  receipt  of  a  set  of  the  re- 
engraved  series,  which  will  be  found  fully 
described  on  pages  50  and  51.  These  stamps, 
which  have  been  kept  back  at  the  Company's 
London  offices  until  the  previous  series  was 
used  up,  have  evidently  now  been  sent  out  to 
Rhodesia. 

Messrs.  Whitfield  King  &  Co.  have  shown 
us  some  additional  stamps  of  the  second 
issue  on  the  "  thicker  "  paper  (not  the  thick 
perf  122),  of  a  less  greyish  appearance.  We 
mentioned  some  time  back  the  possession  of 
a  copy  of  the  6d.,  blue,  on  this  paper,  which 
was  queried  by  our  contemporaries.  The 
values  found  by  Messrs  Whitfield  King  &  Co. 
are  the  following  :  ^d.,  2d.,  3d.,  8d.,  and  3s.; 
hence  these  can  be  added  to  the  values 
already  listed  in  the  catalogue. 

St.  Vincent. —  It  is  some  time  since  we 
had  to  announce  any  new  issues  for  this,  one 
of  the  favourite  British  Colonies.  On 
July  13th,  however,  two  adhesives  of  2|d. 
and  5d.  values  were  issued,  by  which  the 
two  surcharged  stamps  of  2M.  on  id.,  blue, 
and  5d.  on  6d.,  carmine,  become  obsolete. 
The  new  stamps  are  of  the  usual  type  and 
watermark,  etc. 

Adhesives.     ajd.,  blue. 
5d.,  brown. 

Seychelles. — We  do  not  appear  to  have 
mentioned  the  following  values  which  have 
been  in  use  some  time,  and  are  of  the  usual 
type: 

Adhesives.     i8  c,  blue. 

36  c,  brown  and  carmine. 
I  rupee,  violet  and  carmine. 

South  Australia. — The  M.J.  chronicles 
the  3d.  stamp,  perf  13,  which  was  issued  on 
May  31st. 

Adhesive.     3d.,  deep  grey-green. 

Tasmania. — The  issue  of  a  £\  stamp  in 
the  Colonial  type  is  announced. 

Adhesive.    £1,  green  and  yellow. 

EUROPE. 

Beyond  the  new  official  id.  for  Great 
Britain  previously  chronicled,  and  a  couple  of 
minor  varieties  of  perforation,  etc.,  we  have 
heard  of  no  new  issues  to  chronicle,  nor  do 


we  find  in  any  of  our  contemporaries  any 
information  that  has  not  reached  us  hereon. 
Europe  deserves  "  the  white  kid  gloves." 
This  affords  in  our  humble  judgment  the 
happiest  augury  of  the  future  status  of 
European  stamps.  Philatelists  are  but  too 
glad  to  "rest  and  be  thankful,"  and  will 
naturally  turn  to  those  pleasant  places 
where  new  issues  cease  from  troubling  and 
the  Jubilee 's  at  rest ! 

AMERICA. 
Uruguay. — This  Republic  seems  to  be 
donning  coats  of  many  colours.  The  i  c, 
2  c,  and  5  c.  have  now,  we  hear,  been 
changed,  and  from  specimens  shown  to  us 
by  Messrs.  Whitfield  King  &  Co.  the  follow- 
ing are  the  latest : 

Adhesives.  1  c,  grey-lilac. 
2  c,  dull  lilac. 
5  c,  grass-green. 

OTHER  COUNTRIES. 

China. — Messrs.  Whitfield  King  &  Co. 
have  sent  us  the  three  more  values  of  the 
1886  issue,  with  the  large  surcharge. 

A  dhesives. 

1  c.  on  I  cand.,  green,  black  surcharge. 

2  c.  on  3  cand.,  lilac  ,, 
5  c.  on  5  cand.,  olive                ,, 

Relating  to  the  Imperial  Post,  Messrs. 
Whitfield  King  have  also  kindly  supplied 
us  with  the  following  letter,  which  will 
be  found  of  interest.  It  has  been  sent 
to  them  from  a  correspondent  in  the  Far 
East,  who  should  be  in  a  position  to  judge 
of  the  true  facts  of  the  case.  The  said  facts 
were  accompanied  by  a  liberal  amount  of 
invective,  which  in  the  best  interests  of  the 
writer  we  have  ventured  to  dispense  with  : 
"The  author  of  the  article  in  the  English 
Specialists'  Journal,  No.  13,  of  23rd  March, 
1897,  seems  to  be  very  little  acquainted  with 
the  position  and  influence  of  Sir  Robert 
Hart,  the  Inspector-General  of  the  Imperial 
Chinese  Maritime  Customs,  and  also  the 
Chief  of  the  Postal  Department,  attached  to 
this  service  now  by  Imperial  Edict  created 
'Imperial  Chinese  Post.'  To  ascribe  mer- 
cenary motives  to  the  surcharging  of  stamps 
proves  that  the  writer  is  wholly  unacquainted 
with  the  purport  of  the  Postal  Service,  nor 
has  he  any  idea  of  the  currency  of  China, 
saying  '  Taels  and  Candarins  had  been  good 
enough,'  etc. 

"To  remark  that  the  Emperor  has  placed 
'his  Postmaster- General  upon  somewhat 
trying  terms  in  the  matter  of  remuneration' 
shows  only  gross  want  of  knowledge.  To 
make  assertions  like  the  foregoing   in   the 


NEW  ISSUES. 


243 


face  of  the  fact  that  the  Cosmopolitan 
European  Officers  in  this  service  are  picked 
men  from  all  parts  of  the  world,  and  there 
are  yearly  100  applications  for  admittance  to 
this  service,  mostly  from  the  writer's  country, 
and  that  this  service  is  the  backbone  of  the 
Chinese  Government.  A  man  like  Sir 
Robert  Hart,  whom  the  writer  places  on  the 
footing  of  some  ill-paid  petty  official,  is  the 
talesman  who,  having  created  the  Customss 
Service,  and  having  ruled  it  for  over  40  years 
to  the  admiration  of  the  world,  declined 
twice  the  offered  Ambassadorship  of  Great 
Britain. 

"  There  is  not  such  a  thing  as  a  Tael  or  a 
Candarin  in  China.  A  Candarin  is  one- 
hundredth  part  of  an  ounce  of  silver 
(Chinese,  a  Tael),  never  coined,  simply  a 
certain  weight  of  silver,  fluctuating  continu- 
ally in  value.  For  the  following  reasons  the 
first  issues  of  the  Imperial  Customs  stamps 
were  in  Candarins.  As  the  Post  was  only 
an  adjunct  to  the  Customs,  and  as  separate 
accounts  could  not  be  kept  then,  Candarin 
stamps  were  issued.  As  the  Customs  Post 
was  the  only  Post  then  delivering  letters 
in  ports  of  China  and  interior,  no  other 
currency  was  to  be  thought  of  Letters  from 
Europe  and  everywhere  were,  and  are  now 
for  instance,  carried  during  winter,  when  the 
navigation  of  North  China  is  closed  by  ice, 
by  courier  from  Chinkiang  to  Peking,  taking 
23  to  24  days  on  horseback,  all  for  3  can- 
darins or  6  cents,  and  this  is  done  still. 

"  It  was  found  out  long  ago,  becoming 
worse  since  the  great  fluctuation  of  exchange, 
that  stamp  buyers  objected  to  exchange,  the 
Tael  being  one  day  $1.30,  then  run  up  to 
•Si. 50  or  more  or  less,  and  the  stamps 
account  could  therefore  never  be  properly 
adjusted,  or  a  certain  fixed  charge  made 
for  a  certain  reason  for  that  important  fact 
that  all  payments  are  not  made  in  Taels, 
but  dollars  and  cents — Mexican,  Hong- 
kong, Chinese,  etc.,  dollars  and  cents. 
People  buying  stamps  seldom  submitted  to 
the  quoted  exchange,  and  continual  squab- 
bling was  the  result. 

"  On  the  opening  of  the  Imperial  Post  it 
became,  therefore,  a  necessity  to  resort  to  the 
dollars  and  cents  values,  moreover,  as  all 
Foreign  Post  Offices,  British  (Hongkong), 
etc.,  charge  cent  rates.  Neither  for  specu- 
lative purposes,  nor  to  '  cater '  for  collectors, 
etc.,  were  such  surcharges  made,  as  the  new 
engraved  stamps  made  in  Japan  could  not 
be  got  ready  before  the  middle  of  the  year. 


"  For  subterfuges,  such  as  surcharging 
stamps  for  mercenary  reasons,  China  has 
no  need,  and  the  stock  being  barely  enough 
for  franking  purposes,  large  orders  for  stamps 
were  forbidden  to  be  executed. 

"  The  local  post  offices  had  to  close  ;  they 
were  not  coerced  nor  forced.  The  Chinese 
Government  immediately  made  agreement 
with  all  the  coast  steamer  agencies,  as  well 
as  with  the  foreign  post  offices,  agreeing  to 
pay  heavy  subsidies  to  them,  so  that  they 
one  and  all  undertook  to  carry  only  Imperial 
mails  ;  consequently  the  local  post  offices, 
if  they  wish  to  keep  on,  have  to  confine 
themselves  to  local  delivery,  within  the  limits 
of  the  ports. 

"  To  print  a  sufficient  stock  of  new 
stamps  takes  a  very  long  time.  To  execute 
the  order  in  England,  engraving,  printing, 
&c.,  would  have  taken  eighteen  months  to 
two  years,  while  in  Japan  it  takes  over  a 
year." 

French  Morocco. — Messrs.  Whitfield 
King  &  Co.  have  discovered  what  is  ap- 
parently an  error  of  colour  in  the  surcharged 
stamps,  the  overprint  being  in  vcniiilion 
in  place  of  carmine. 

Aiihesives.     5  c,  green,  vermilion  surch. 

10  c,  black  on  tnaiivc,  vermilion  surch. 
25  c,  brown  on  red  ,,  „ 

Tonga. — From  Messrs.  Whitfield  King 
&  Co.  comes  a  set  of  eleven  new  stamps  of 
a  picture  gallery  order.  These  have  been 
prepared  by  Messrs.  De  La  Rue  &  Co., 
and  were  shown  in  this  firm's  exhibit  at 
the  London  Philatelic  Exhibition.  The 
designs  for  the  2d.,  2id.,  5d.,  7|d.,  lod., 
and  is.  are  alike,  and  bear  a  portrait 
of  King  George  II.  in  an  oval,  the 
other  values  bearing  representations  of 
features  peculiar  to  these  islands.  As  a 
whole,  the  stamps  make  a  handsome  set. 
We  only  hope  it  may  not  be  necessary  to 
chronicle  a  change  for  some  time  to  come. 
Wmk.  turtles. 

Adhcsives.    ^d.,  dark  blue;  Arms. 

id. I  vermilion  and  black  ;  tree. 
2d.,  bistre  and  black;  portrait. 
25d.,  blue  and  black  ,, 

3d.,  dark  green  and  black  ;  monument. 
^A.,  mauve  and  green  ;  bread-fruit, 
sd.,  orange  and  black  ;  portrait. 
6d.,  vermilion  ;  coral. 
7id.,  green  and  black  ;  portrait. 
7od.,  lake  and  black  ,, 

IS.,  brown      ,,  ,, 

as.,  blue  ,,  view. 

2S.  6d.,  violet;  parrot. 
55.,  red-brown  and  black  ;  view. 


[        24+        ] 


larhet. 


Messrs.  Puttick  &  Simpson. 
Sale  on  July  2yth.  and  28th. 

Brunswick,  p.   en   scie,   |  gros.,      £   ^■ 

black  on  green,  unused  .  4  10 
Great  Britain,  V  R,  a  strip  of  3, 

unused 34    o 

Ditto,  1 88 1,  id.,  lilac,  the  14  dots 

variety,  sheet  of  240  .  .150 
United   States,   St.   Louis,   1845, 

10  c,  black  on  greenish,  on 

entire  original,  penstroked  .  10  o 
Nevis,  perf.  15,  litliographed,  4d., 

orange,  entire  sheet  (12)  .  70  o 
Ditto,    6d.,    grey,    reconstructed 

plate,  three/rtzV  (12)  .  .  90  o 
Ditto,   ditto,  a  single  specimen, 

unused  (No.  2)  .  .  .  85 
Ditto,  CA,  6d.,  green,  unused      .      5  10 

Messrs.  Cheveley  &  Co. 
July  8th,  22nd,  and  23rd. 

Nevis,  6d.,  litho.,  No.  11  on  plate, 

unused 9  10 

Do.   do.,  No.  12  on  plate,  unused      9    o 

Prussia,     1861-63,     2     s.    gros., 

Prussian   blue,   unused         .       3   15 

Great  Britain,  oct.,  lod.,  brown, 
block  of  3,  two  showing  the 
die  number  ( I ),  third  omitted     35     o 

Ceylon,  8d.,  imperf.,  good  margins    16  10 

India,  ^  anna,  red,  9^  arches        .     11    10 

Mauritius,  Britannia,  IS., yell.-grn., 

imperf.,  unused,  block  of  4    .       7   10 

Buenos  Ayres,  SS.,  4  pesos,  red  .       8  10 

Turks  Islands,  1893,  prov.,  |d.  on 

4d.,  grey,  unused  strip  of  6   .     16    o 

United  States,  Justice,  90  c.         .       515 

Bahamas,    no    wmk.,   4d.,    rose, 

unused,  pair .         .         .        .1410 

Ditto,  ditto,  6d.,  grey-lilac,  un- 
used, pair      .         .        .         .     14  10 

Mr.  W.  Hadlow. 
July  7th. 

Newfoundland,  6d.,  car.-ver.,  un- 
used, large  margins       .         .     30 

Ditto,  IS.,  car.-ver.,  unused,  fair  .     19 

Ditto,  4d.,  orange-vermilion,  un- 
used, large  margins       .         .16 

Ditto,  6d.,  orange-vermilion,  un- 
used, large  margins       .         .12 

Ditto,  IS.,  orange-ver., unused,  fair    20 

Canada,  7W.,  grn.,  imperf.,  unused      9 

Ditto,    lod.,    blue,    imperf,   thin 

paper,  unused,  strip  of  3       .     33  10    o 

British  Columbia,  fc^i,  green  on 

green,  unused        .         .         .880 

Barbados,  pin-pf.,  id.,  blue, unused    13    o    o 

Grenada,  1875,  is.,  deep  mauve, 

error,  "  shlliing"        .        .     10  10    o 

St.  Vincent,  4d.  on  IS.,  unused    .     12     o    o 

Ditto,    ditto,    used,    postmarked 

Nov.  28 — .  81.       .        .         .     12  12     o 


o 
o 
o 

o 

o 

o 

o 
o 


o 
o 
o 

o 
o 

o 
o 

o 

o 


o 
o 


o 
o 

5 


£ 

J. 

d. 

4 

10 

0 

3 

10 

0 

7 

0 

0 

15 

0 

0 

14 

0 

0 

8 

0 

0 

6 

0 

0 

Messrs.  Ventom,  Bull,  &  Cooper 
July  26th,  27th,  29th,  and  30th. 

Hamburg,  1 864-65, 3  sch.,  Prussian 

blue,  perf.,  block  of  6,  unused 
Schleswig-Holstein,    first    issue, 

I  sch.,  blue,  pair,  unused 
Do.   do.,  2  sch.,  rose,  pair,  unused 
Bavaria,    1850-58,    12    kr.,    red, 

sheet  of  45    . 
Do.  do.,  1 8  kr.,  orange,  sheet  of  45 
Wurtemberg,  1873,  70  kr.,  rose- 
lilac,  pair,  unused 
Denmark,    1870-71,  48  sk.,  lilac 

and  brown,  strip  of  3,  unused 
Zululand,  5  s.,  black  on  carmine, 

pair,  unused .        .         .        ,      4  10 
St.   Christopher,   CA,  6d.,  olive- 
brown,  sheet  of  20         .        .     40    o 
Dominica,    CA,    is.,    lilac-rose, 

block  of  4,  unused        .         .     14  14 
Virgin  Islands,  first  issue,  perf  12, 

6d.,  rose,  entire  sheet  of  25     21     o 
Mecklenburg- Schwerin,   ^    sch., 

red,  dotted  ground,  rou.,  hor. 

pair,  on  piece  of  original        .     11     5 
Schleswig-Holstein,  first  issue,   i 

sch.,  blue,  horizontal  pair,  on 

piece  of  original    .        .        .So 
Hanover,   10  gros.,  green,  block 

of  4,  on  piece  of  original      .     16     o 
Switzerland,  Winterthur,  2j  rap. 

black  and  red,  vertical  pair  .     1 1     o    o 
Spain,    1850,    10    reales,    green 

block  of  4    . 
Ditto,  1851,2  reales,  red,  hor.  pair 
Ditto,  1852,  2  reales,  pale  red,  hor. 

pair,  on  piece  of  original 
Ditto,    1858,    12    cuartos,   violet 

block  of  42    . 
Ditto,    1858,  2  reales,  vermilion 

pair,  on  piece  of  original 
Ditto,  1855,  2  reales,  blue  (error) 

centre  stamp  in  a  strip  of  3  .     17  10    o 
Philippine  Islands,  first  issue,  5 

cuartos,  orange,  block  of  10     19    o    o 
Ditto,     ditto,     first     issue,      10 

cuartos,  pale  rose,  block  of  10    21     00 
Ditto,   ditto,   first  issue,    i    real, 

slate-blue,    block  of    6,    on 

piece  of  original   .         .        .      8  10    o 
Ditto,  ditto,  first  issue,  2  reales, 

emerald-green,  block  of  10  .     13  10    o 
Portugal,    first    issue,    100    reis, 

lilac,  block  of  4     .         .         .       7100 
Heligoland,  1873,  j  sch.,  rose  and 

green,  block  of  6,  used,  on 

original  .... 

Cape  woodblock,  id.,  red,  a  pair 
Ditto,  ditto,  4d.,  blue,  a  pair 
St.  Vincent,  first  issue,  no  wmk., 

4d.,  blue,  entire,  used,  sheet 

of  30 30    o 

British  Guiana,  1852,  i  c,  black 

on  magenta,  hor.  strip  of  4  .     26    o 


IS 

46 

21 


12 


39 

0 

0 

20 

0 

0 

10 

0 

0 

THE 


l0itd0tt  |MlEti|Iist : 


THE    MONTHLY    JOURNAL    OF 


THE    PHILATELIC   SOCIETY,    LONDON. 


Vol.   VI. 


SEPTEMBER,    1897. 


No.    69. 


"%  Jfr'untr  ai  (Sbcrg  dountr]]  but  Ijis  #1i31T.' 


HE  scathing  words  of  our  title,  once  delivered  with  such 
telling  effect,  seem  peculiarly  applicable  to  the  action  of 
the  Post  Office  authorities  in  their  ill-advised  and  unnecessary- 
crusade  against  the  use  of  illustrations  of  postage  stamps 
in  this  country.  The  general  impression  conveyed  as  to 
the  trend  of  national  feeling  during  the  current  year  of 
rejoicing,  has  been  in  favour  of  a  closer  communion  between 
this  country  and  its  Colonies.  Nor  has  there,  on  the 
contrary,  been  any  indication  of  a  wish  to  part  with  any 
portion  of  our  trade  to  our  enterprising  neighbours  on  the 
Continent. 

In  direct  contrast  to  these  accepted  principles  is  the 
action  of  the  Post  Office  as  regards  Philatelic  illustration,  and  we  are 
of  opinion  that  should  the  matter  be  further  pursued,  strong  representations 
will  have  to  be  made  to  the  Government,  when  it  will  be  found  that  the 
many  thousands  of  Her  Majesty's  subjects,  affected  directly  or  indirectly 
by  Philately,  are  not  so  powerless  as  to  be  ignored,  even  by  the  most  zealous 
of  officials. 

The  publishers  of  Philatelic  works — Illustrated  Albums,  Handbooks, 
Catalogues,  Price  Lists,  and  Journals — in  this  country  are  to-day  a  numerous 
class,  and  the  number  of  their  readers  must  be  enormous.  In  all  these 
the  illustration  of  postage  stamps  is  indispensable,  and  if  they  are  to  be 
debarred  i/ie  whole  of  this  work  will  go  out  of  the  cotmirj,  and  most 
probably  to  Germany  I  In  one  case  alone  it  will  mean  the  discharge 
of  a  large  number  of  men,  while  a  reference  to  the  large  publishing  houses 
would  at  once  indicate  the  volume  of  the  interests  affected. 

The  almost  complete  immunity  against  forgery,  enjoyed  by  the  postage 
stamps  of  this  country,  is  largely  due  to  the  Argus  eyes  of  the  Philatelic 
community,  than  whom  the  Postmaster-General  has  no  truer  allies.  It  is 
in  truth   through  the  detective  power   of   Philately  that   the   instances   of 


246 


THE  POST  CARDS   OF  NEW  SOUTH   WALES. 


postage  stamp  forgery  in  India,  Switzerland,  Spain,  and  Germany  have 
been  discovered.  In  grateful  return  the  British  Postal  authorities  would 
crush  us  out ! 

The  action  taken  is  under  an  obscure  and  purblind  piece  of  legislation, 
entitled  the  Post  Office  Protection  Act,  which  states  that  no  one  shall 
hold  dies,  etc.,  "  without  lawful  excuse,"  which  is  apparently  interpreted 
to  mean  that,  outside  officials  and  Government  printers,  the  possession 
of  such  is  illegal.  If  so,  why  was  the  Act  passed.''  The  words  "lawful 
excuse"  and  the  Act  itself  would  then  seem  superfluous.  On  the  contrary, 
if  defined  by  common-sense  principles,  "  lawful  excuse  "  would  mean  that  the 
user  of  dies  would  have  to  be  in  a  position  to  satisfy  official  enquiry  as  to 
the  reasons  of  such  possession — or  take  the  consequences.  The  use  of  these 
illustrations  can  easily  be  surrounded  by  all  the  safeguards  that  are  required 
for  the  protection  of  the  public.  The  issue  of  licenses,  and  the  giving  of 
sureties  by  both  publisher  and  printer,  should  satisfy  the  most  exigent 
of  officials,  and  there  are  other  methods  of  securing  the  Government 
from  any  misuse  of  Philatelic  illustrations.  The  use  of  blocks  for  the 
purposes  of  our  pursuit  is  absolutely  necessary,  and  if  we  are  prevented 
by  senseless  red  tape  from  having  them  made  at  home,  the  whole  of  the 
Philatelic  printing  will  migrate  to  Leipsic,  and  we  shall  import  the  London 
Philatelist  with  the  patriotic  (!)  inscription — so  thoroughly  in  consonance 
with  our  title  to  this  article — "  Made  in  Germany." 


C^c  lost  Ciu-bs  0f  icto  Soutlj  mtalts. 


Bv  A.  F.  BASSET  HULL. 
[Continued  from  page  234.) 


the  9th  July,  1888,  the  Centennial  adhesive  \d.  stamp  was 
issued.  Shortly  afterwards,  on  the  i6th  August,  1888,  the 
new  design  of  stamp  was  adopted  for  the  Post  Card.  At 
the  same  time  the  two  first  lines  of  inscription,  the  Arms, 
and  the  waratah  were  altered.  "  New  South  Wales "  was 
disposed  in  an  arched  or  scroll  form  above  the  Arms, 
which  are  on  an  oval  shield,  and  the  "  supporters "  are  springing  outwards 
from  behind  the  shield.  The  riband  has  no  motto.  The  words  "  Post  Card  " 
are  in  sans-serif  capitals,  dropped  a  little  below  the  level  of  the  Arms.  The 
waratah  flower  is  rounded  instead  of  conical,  and  the  ninth  leaf  from  the  top 
overlies  the  stalk.  The  veining  of  the  leaves  is  much  more  distinct,  and 
there  is  a  "prickly"  appearance  about  them. 

This  design  was  transferred  from  cliches  and  type,  and  lithographed  in 
purple  on  pale  buff  card,  varying  considerably  in  shade  and  slightly  in  quality. 
There  are  several  sizes  of  the  design,  resulting  from  irregular  shrinkage 
of  the  transfer  paper. 

The  card  was  cut  to  size,  varying  from  152  x  84  mm.  to  164  x  89  mm. 
No  Gazette  notice  or  official  announcement  of  the  issue  was  made. 


THE  POST  CARDS  OF  NEW  SOUTH   WALES.  247 

On  the  9th  December,  1889,  the  Government  printer  submitted  for  the 
approval  of  the  Postmaster-General  a  proof  of  an  engraving  on  copper  of 
the  One  Penny  Post  Card.  This  engraving  was  considered  necessary  in 
consequence  of  the  unsatisfactory  results  obtained  from  transfers  of  the 
One  Penny  Postage  Stamp,  Lettering,  etc.,  which  were  engraved  in  relief 

The  new  design  was  approved  on  the  12th  December,  1889,  and  although 
I  have  no  positive  evidence  of  the  exact  date  of  issue,  it  may  safely  be  put 
down  as  ist  January,  1890. 

The  design  differs  from  the  preceding  in  every  particular  except  the 
stamp.  The  name  "  New  South  Wales "  is  in  a  straight  line ;  the  words 
"  Post  Card  "  are  in  large  Roman  capitals ;  the  Arms  and  waratah  are  the 
same  as  on  the  card  of  1887. 

There  appear  to  be  at  least  three  sizes  of  the  design,  the  length  from  the 
point  of  the  second  leaf  on  the  waratah  to  the  right  outer  edge  of  the  stamp 
is  144J,  145-f,  and  146mm.  As  all  three  varieties  are  found  used  in  1890, 
it  is  probable  that  the  difference  in  length  was  produced  by  the  shrinkage 
of  paper  in  the  process  of  transfer  from  the  copper  plate  to  the  lithographic 
stone. 

The  cards  are  found  cut  in  varying  sizes,  viz.,  160x79,  162  x  90,  166x91!-, 
and  169  x88  mm.  These  are  the  most  marked  variations  in  size,  but  inter- 
mediate sizes  may  be  found. 

The  card  was  lithographed  in  shades  of  purple  on  stout  to  medium  buff 
card. 

In  1892,  owing  to  a  temporary  exhaustion  of  the  buff  card,  it  was  printed 
on  white.  The  same  differences  in  size  of  the  design  may  be  found,  and  the 
card  varies  from  1 59  x  90  to  164  x  90  mm. 

The  earliest  dated  used  copy  I  have  seen  bears  date  "  16  May,  1892";  but 
so  late  as  February,  1894,  it  was  in  use  with  the  O.  S.  surcharge. 

The  buff  card  was  again  used  in  1893,  and  no  further  alteration  in  the 
Inland  card  took  place  till  1896. 

Some  of  the  Inland  id.  Post  Cards,  addressed  to  England  and  stamped 
with  an  adhesive  |d.  stamp,  were  taxed  on  delivery,  as  they  were  not  in 
accordance  with  Postal  Union  regulations.  In  order  to  avoid  any  repetition 
of  such  taxation,  it  was  decided  to  reduce  the  card  to  Postal  Union 
dimensions  and  to  discard  the  waratah  ornament.  On  a  proof  being  sub- 
mitted on  the  28th  July,  1896,  it  was  decided  to  omit  the  words  "  One 
hundred  years  "  from  the  stamp,  and  to  substitute  a  conventional  waratah. 

This  alteration  was  effected,  and  the  new  design  gazetted  in  the  following 
notice : 

[1749]  "Postal  and  Electric  Telegraph  Department, 

"General  Post  Office,  Sydney, 

"201/1  August,   1S96. 

"  His  Excellency  the  Governor,  with  the  advice  of  the  Executive  Council,  has, 
under  the  provisions  of  the  7th  Section  of  the  Postage  Acts  Amendment  Act,  56  Vic. 
No.  31,  approved  of  the  introduction  of  a  new  id.  Post  Card,  of  size  and  design  in 
conformity  with  the  Regulations  of  the  Universal  Postal  Union.  In  the  new  issue 
the  waratah  ornamentation  has  been  omitted  from  the  face  of  the  card,  and  an  emblem- 
atic waratah  and  leaves  substituted  for  the  words  'One  hundred  years'  in  the  tablet  below 
the  central  circle  in  the  stamp  denoting  the  value.  "Joseph  Cook." 


248  THE  POST  CARDS   OF  NEW  SOUTH  WALES. 

The  first  issue  to  the  public  was  made  on  the  8th  September,  1896. 

The  design  of  the  stamp  was  similar  to  the  previous  issue,  but  the  inscrip- 
tion "One  hundred  years"  was  removed,  and  a  conventional  waratah  inserted 
in  the  lower  part  of  the  inscribed  circle.  The  name  was  placed  on  an  arched 
riband  above  "Post  (Arms)  Card,"  and  "The  address,"  etc.,  remained  as  before. 
The  size  was  reduced  to  140  x90  mm.  (slight  variations  may  be  found). 
Lithographed  in  purple  on  pale  straw  card. 

II.  INLAND    REPLY   CARDS. 

In  1880  the  question  of  introducing  the  system  of  reply  paid  Post  Cards 
was  under  consideration,  but  it  was  not  until  1882  that  it  was  finally 
adopted. 

On  the  28th  December,  1882,  the  Government  printer  submitted  proofs 
of  a  reply  paid  card,  the  reply  half  being  printed  in  a  different  colour  from 
the  message  half.  The  design,  subject  to  some  minor  alterations  in  the  inscrip- 
tion, was  approved  on  the  same  day,  both  halves  to  be  printed  in  one 
colour. 

It  was  desired  that  the  issue  should  take  place  on  the  ist  January,  1883, 
but  the  time  was  too  short  to  print  a  supply.  However,  they  were  ready 
and   issued   to   the   public    on   the    5th  January.     The   Gazette  notice    was 

as  follows  : 

"General  Post  Office,  Sydney, 

"  l2th  January,   1 883. 

"reply  post  cards. 

"His  Excellency  the  Governor,  with  the  advice  of  the  Executive  Council,  has 

been  pleased  to  approve  of  the  introduction  of  reply  Post  Cards,  that  is,  of  double 

cards,  each  half  of  which  will  have  a  penny  stamp  impressed  thereon,  one  half  being 

intended  for  use  by  the  sender,  and  the  other  by  the  addressee  in  transmitting  a 

reply. 

"  Postmasters  and  licensed  vendors  of  Postage  Stamps  will  be  supplied  with  these 
cards  in  packets  of  sixty  (the  value  of  the  packet  being  10^.),  at  the  usual  discount 
(2I  per  cent),  and  they  will  be  sold  to  the  public  at  id.  each. 

"  Reply  Post  Cards  are  only  available  for  transmission  within  the  Colony  of  New 
South  Wales.  "F.A.Wright." 

The  design  was  without  border.  The  stamp,  of  the  same  type  as  the 
\d.  adhesive,  was  placed  in  the  right  upper  corner.  The  inscriptions  were, 
"  Post  Card,"  in  ornamental  capitals,  with  small  Royal  Arms  beneath.  "  (The 
address  only  to  be  written  on  this  side),"  in  italics.  "  To,"  in  italics,  followed 
by  three  dotted  lines  for  address ;  and  at  the  foot  "(The  receiver  should  cut 
or  tear  off  this  half  and  send  the  reply  on  the  other  half)." 

The  length  of  this  last  line  of  the  inscriptions  was  98  mm. 

The  reply  half  bore  the  word  "  Reply,"  in  small  thick  capitals,  below  the 
Arms,  and  the  last  line  of  inscription  was  omitted. 

Lithographed  in  rose  and  pale  rose  on  pale  buff  card.     Size  (folded), 

126  x88  mm. 

About  1886  the  colour  of  the  card  was  changed  to  white,  and  the  last 
line  of  inscription  was  increased  in  length  to  102  mm.  The  size  of  the  card 
remained  the  same. 


THE   POST  CARDS   OF  NEW  SOUTH  WALES.  249 

Lithographed  in  bright  rose-pink  on  white. 

About  April,  1890,  the  stamp  was  changed,  the  Centennial  type  being 
substituted  for  the  1864  type.  The  size,  quality,  and  colour  of  the  card 
remained  the  same,  and  the  inscriptions  were  not  altered  in  any  respect. 

Lithographed  in  purple  on  white. 

in.   THE  2d.   &  3d.   "FOREIGN"   CARDS.     1889-91. 

The  Sydney  Morning  Herald  of  the  loth  November,  1888,  contained 
an  article,  written  by  Dr.  Houison,  of  Sydney,  upon  the  issue  of  a  stamp 
for  the  prepayment  of  postage  in  New  South  Wales  in  the  year  1838. 

Arrangements  had  just  been  completed  for  the  exchange  of  Post  Cards 
with  Great  Britain  at  the  rate  of  2d.  each  by  the  long  sea  route,  or  id.  each 
by  the  overland  route  via  Italy.  As  it  was  necessary  to  prepare  special 
cards  for  the  purpose,  the  suggestion  was  made  that  the  occasion  was  a 
fitting  one  to  celebrate  the  Jubilee  of  the  issue  of  a  postage  stamp  in  New 
South  Wales  by  including  some  reference  to  the  event  in  the  design  of  the 
new  cards. 

On  the  24th  November,  1888,  Dr.  Houison  submitted  a  design  for  the 
proposed  cards,  which,  on  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Dalgarno,  Assistant- 
Secretary  to  the  Postal  Department,  contained  a  facsimile  of  the  1838 
postage  stamp.  This  fac-siviile  was,  of  course,  an  outline  drawing  of  the 
embossed  design  used  in  1838,  the  remainder  of  the  design  being  a  tracing 
from  the  "  Contribucion  Federal"  fiscal  stamp  of  Mexico,  type  of  1882,  with 
the  necessary  alterations  in  the  inscriptions.  The  words  "  Republica — 
Mexicana"  in  the  rings  in  the  upper  angles  were  replaced  by  "Jubilee — 
Stamp";  the  figures  in  the  projecting  labels  were  altered  to  correspond 
with  the  values  required  for  the  cards;  the  date  "  1882"  in  the  labels  in  the 
lower  angles  was  changed  to  "1838-1888";  and  the  value  in  words  was 
placed  in  the  straight  label  at  the  bottom  of  the  design,  as  in  the  Mexican 
stamp.  The  oak  leaves  at  the  left  side  were  faithfully  copied,  but  the  laurel 
leaves  at  the  right  side  were  slightly  altered  in  character  to  represent  the 
leaves  of  the  Australian  eucalyptus.  In  place  of  the  inscription  "  Renta 
DEL  Timbre.  Contribucion  Federal"  the  following  words  were  in- 
serted, "In  commemoration  of  the  fiftieth  year  of  the  issue  of 
POSTAGE  STAMPS  IN  THE  COLONY";  and  the  inner  circle,  filled  in  with 
ornament  in  the  Mexican  stamp,  was  inscribed  "  DESIGN  OF  THE  FIRST 
POSTAGE  STAMP."  The  facsimile  of  this  stamp  occupies  the  position 
Mexico  devoted   to  a  portrait  of  Don  Gomez  Frias. 

This  design  was  approved  by  the  Postmaster-General,  the  Hon.  C.  J. 
Roberts,  on  November  27th,  for  both  cards,  the  colours  of  the  respective 
postage  stamps  of  the  same  values  to  be  adhered  to  in  each  case. 

Proofs  of  the  Post  Cards  were  submitted  by  the  Government  printer, 
and  approved  by  the  Postmaster-General  on  December  19th,  1888,  and 
instructions  were  given  for  the  printing  of  a  supply  in  readiness  for  use  on 
January  ist,  1889. 

The  Government  Gazette  of  December  29th,  1888,  contained  the  following 
notice : 


2 so  THE  POST  CARDS  OF  NEW  SOUTH  WALES. 

[9415]  "General  Post  Office,  Sydney, 

"2Ttk  December,  1888. 

"issue   of   post  cards  for  use  between  new  south  wales  and  the  united 
kingdom  by  contract  packets  only,  and  commemoration  of  the  fiftieth 

year    of   THE   ISSUE   OF   POSTAGE   STAMPS    IN   THE   COLONY. 

"It  is  hereby  notified  that  from  the  ist  proximo  a  Post  Card  of  the  value  of 
Two-pence  will  be  issued,  which  may  be  forwarded  from  New  South  Wales  to  the 
United  Kingdom  by  the  contract  packets  of  the  Peninsular  and  Oriental  and  the 
Orient  Steam  Navigation  Companies  only  by  what  is  termed  the  long  sea  route,  i.e., 
conveyed  all  the  way  from  Australia,  by  sea,  to  England. 

"A  Post  Card,  of  the  value  of  Three-pence,  will  also  be  issued  on  the  ist 
proximo,  for  use  between  this  Colony  and  the  United  Kingdom,  oi'erland  via  Italy, 
which  may  be  forwarded  only  by  the  above-mentioned  packets. 

"It  happens  that  the  year  1888  is  the  fiftieth  since  the  introduction  of  postage 
stamps  in  the  Colony  of  New  South  Wales,  and  the  necessity  that  has  arisen  for  the 
issue  of  special  Post  Cards  has  therefore  been  availed  of  to  commemorate  this  jubilee 
event  by  including  in  the  design  of  these  Post  Cards  a  reference  to  the  occasion. 

"The  size  of  the  Post  Card  of  the  value  of  two-pence  is  6i  x  },^^  inches,  and  it 
is  printed  in  blue. 

"  The  size  of  the  Post  Card  of  the  value  of  three-pence  is  6i  x  7^^^  inches,  and 
it  is  printed  in  light  green. 

"  The  design  of  both  stamps  is  the  same,  except  in  the  value  indications,  and  may 
be  described  as  follows  : 

"In  the  centre  is  a  simiHtude  of  the  first  stamp  issued  in  the  year  1838,  con- 
taining Royal  Arms,  with  motto  '  Dieu  et  mon  droit,'  and  words  '  General  Post 
Office,  Sydney,  New  South  Wales,'  surrounding  the  same.  This  similitude  is  enclosed 
by  two  circles  containing  the  words  '  In  commemoration  of  the  fiftieth  year  of  the 
issue  of  postage  stamps  in  the  Colony,'  and  '  Design  of  the  first  postage  stamp.' 
This  rests  upon  a  St.  Andrew's  Cross,  the  upper  limbs  of  which  contain  the  figures 
denoting  the  value  of  the  postage,  with  rings  containing  words  'Jubilee'  and 
'Stamp.'  The  lower  limbs  of  the  cross  respectively  bear  the  figures  '1838'  and 
'  1888.'  Through  the  design  and  enclosing  it  is  a  wreath  composed  of  oak  and 
eucalyptus  leaves,  with  band  at  foot  containing  words  indicating  the  value  of  postage. 

"  To  the  left  of  the  design  above  described  are  the  words  '  Post '  in  large  capitals, 
and  below  this  in  smaller  type  '  The  address  only  to  be  written  on  this  side  of  the 
card.'  To  the  right  are  the  words  '  Card,'  and  in  the  one  case  '  For  the  United 
Kingdom  by  the  long  sea  route,'  and  in  the  other  '  For  the  United  Kingdom  over- 
land via  Italy.'     The  whole  is  enclosed  in  an  ornamental  double-lined  border. 

"Charles  J.  Roberts." 

The  foregoing  notice  contains  a  full  description  of  the  design,  and  it  is 
only  necessary  to  add  that  the  inscription  to  the  right  of  the  design  on  the 
Two  pence  reads,  "For  the  United  Kingdom— by  the  long  sea  route,"  in 
italic  sans-serif  type,  the  words  "  United  Kingdom  "  being  in  capitals ;  while 
the  Three  pence  has  "  For  United  Kingdom,  &c.,  overland  via  Italy,"  in 
similar  type,  the  word  "the"  having  been  accidentally  omitted. 

Both  cards  were  lithographed  in  colour  on  medium  white  card,  cut  to 
size,  155  X  90  mm. 

The  border  of  both  cards  is  about  150x78  mm.,  and  the  upper  part  of 
the  design  projects  about  5  mm.  above  the  top  border. 


THE  POST  CARDS   OF  NEW  SOUTH  WALES.  251 

The  Two  pence  was  printed  in  cobalt-blue,  and  the  Three  pence  in  full 
green. 

The  first  issue  took  place  on  January  1st,  1889. 

In  June,  1890,  an  arrangement  was  made  for  an  exchange  of  post  cards 
with  France  at  the  rate  then  existing  for  the  United  Kingdom  by  the  over- 
land route,  viz.,  3d.  In  consequence  of  this  arrangement  the  words  "and 
for  France  "  were  added  to  the  inscription  to  the  right  of  the  design  of  the 
then  current  3d.  card.  The  additional  words  were  in  similar  type  to  the 
preceding,  but  were  printed  in  a  lighter  green  shade.  No  other  change  was 
made  in  the  design  or  colour  of  the  card. 

The  overprint  was  placed  on  all  the  3d.  cards  in  stock  on  August  7th, 
1890,  and  under  date  August  14th  the  exchange  of  post  cards  with  France 
at  3d.  each  was  notified  in  the  Government  Gazette. 

In  November,  1890,  the  maximum  charge  for  Post  Cards  to  the  United 
Kingdom,  France,  and  some  other  countries  which  had  agreed  to  exchange 
was  reduced  to  2d. 

An  alteration  was  required  in  the  inscription  of  the  Two  pence  card  to 
adapt  it  to  the  altered  tariff,  but  the  whole  card  was  rearranged  at  the  time 
the  change  was  being  made. 

A  proof  was  submitted  and  approved  on  the  24th  November,  1890. 

The  central  design  was  dropped,  bringing  the  top  into  a  line  with  the 
border ;  the  inscription  to  the  right  of  the  design  was  altered  to  "  For 
the  United  Kingdom,  and  other  countries  to  which  Post  Cards  may  be  sent," 
in  italic  sans-serif  type. 

The  size  of  the  border  was  increased  to  153x79  mm.,  and  the  card  to 
165  X90  mm. 

It  was  printed  in  cobalt-blue  on  primrose  card. 

The  first  issue  took  place  on  the  2nd  January,  1891. 


Although  the  reduction  of  the  Post  Card  rate  for  foreign  countries  took 
place  in  January,  1891,  the  3d.  card  was  not  definitely  withdrawn  from  issue 
until  the  30th  September,  1891,  when  in  company  with  the  2d.  it  was  super- 
seded by  the  i-^-d.  card,  issued  upon  the  entry  of  New  South  Wales  into  the 
Universal  Postal  Union  from  the  ist  October,  1891. 


IV.     INTERNATIONAL  SINGLE  AND   REPLY  CARDS. 

The  2d.  and  3d.  International  Post  Cards  were  withdrawn  from  use  on  the 
30th  September,  189 1. 

The  Colony  entered  the  Postal  Union  on  the  1st  October,  1891,  and 
proofs  were  soon  after  submitted  for  single  and  reply  International  i|d. 
Cards.  These  were  approved,  and  an  Executive  Minute,  dated  13th  October, 
authorized  the  issue.     They  were  gazetted  on  the  23rd  October, 


2S2  THE  POST  CARDS   OF  NEW  SOUTH  WALES. 

"  General  Post  Office,  Sydney, 

"  2yd  October,   1 89 1. 
"POST   CARDS. 

"In  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  i6th  Section  of  the  Postage  Act, 
His  Excellency  the  Governor,  with  the  advice  of  the  Executive  Council,  has  been 
pleased  to  approve  of  the  introduction  of  two  New  Impressed  Postage  Stamps  of  the 
following  values,  namely : 

i|d.  for  Post  Cards,  and  for  each  half  of  reply  Post  Cards; 

3d.  for  Registration  Envelopes ; 
the  i^d.  stamp  to  be  of  the  same  design  as  the  current  id.  issue,  with  the  substitution 
of  the  i|d.  for  the  view  of  Sydney  in  the  centre,  and  the  omission  of  the  words  'one 
PENNY,'  the  printed  directions,  &c.,  on  the  cards  being  in  both  the  English  and  French 
languages.  Colour  to  be  blue,  and  the  3d.  (Registration)  stamp  to  be  of  the  same 
design  and  colour  as  at  present,  the  word  '  three  '  being  substituted  for  the  word 

'  FOUR.' 

"Pending  the  issue  of  the  latter  stamp,  authority  has  been  given  for  the  present 
Fourpenny  Registration  stamp  to  be  utilized  with  the  overprint  'three   pence.' 

"  Daniel  O'Conner." 

For  both  single  and  reply  cards  the  stamp  was  a  modification  of  the 
Centennial  id.  The  view  was  removed  from  the  centre,  and  the  space  filled 
in  with  "  i|d.,"  while  the  value  label  was  converted  into  a  bar  of  solid  colour. 
The  inscriptions  on  the  single  card  were  in  six  lines  as  follows : 
"Union  Postale  Universelle — New  South  Wales — Nouvelle — Galles  du 
Sud. — Post  (Arms)  Card — The  Address  only  to  be  written  on  this  side — (ce 
cote  est  reserve  a  I'adresse)."  There  was  a  representation  of  the  waratah 
(Type  I.)  at  the  left  of  the  inscriptions.  Lithographed  in  bright  blue  on 
primrose  card.     Size  varied  from  164x93  mm.  to  163  x  90  mm. 

The  reply  card  had  the  same  inscriptions  as  the  single  card,  but  in  five 
lines,  the  name  of  the  Colony  in  English  and  French  being  in  one  line.  The 
circumflex  accent  was  correctly  placed  on  the  "o"  of  "cote."  Beneath 
these  inscriptions  come  the  word  "  To,"  followed  by  three  dotted  lines  for  the 
address ;  and  at  the  foot,  in  two  lines,  was  the  additional  inscription,  "  The 
other  half  is  for  the  reply  only — La  carte  ci-jointe  est  destinee  a  la  reponse." 
The  reply  half  had  the  words  "  Reply — Reponse  "  beneath  the  Arms,  and  of 
course  the  last  two  lines  of  inscription  were  omitted. 

Lithographed  in  bright  blue  on  primrose  card.  Size  (folded),  127x82 
mm. 

Attention  having  been  called  to  the  fact  that  the  single  cards  exceeded 
Union  dimensions,  about  15,000  were  cut  down  to  150x87  mm.  in  August, 
1892.     No  alteration  was  made  in  the  design. 

In  June,  1895,  the  stamp  on  the  single  card  was  altered  to  that  of  the 
Letter  Card,  with  altered  figures  of  value,  and  "Penny  Halfpenny"  in  the 
value  label.  The  hyphen  was  removed  from  "Nouvelle  Galles,"  and  the 
circumflex  was  correctly  placed  over  the  "o"  of  "cotd"  Lithographed  in 
bright  blue  on  pale  straw  card.     Size,  153  x 90  mm. 

This  alteration  was  not  gazetted  until  the  22nd  July,  1895,  although  the 
card  had  been  issued  more  than  a  month  previously.  The  following  is  the 
notice : 


THE  POST  CARDS  OF  NEW  SOUTH  WALES.  253 

[627]  "Postal  and  Electric  Telegraph  Department, 

"General  Post  Office,  Sydney, 

^^  22nd  July,   1895. 

"In  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  7th  Section  of  the  Postage  Acts 
Amendment  Act,  56  Vic.  No.  31,  His  Excellency  the  Lieutenant-Governor,  with  the 
advice  of  the  Executive  Council,  has  been  pleased  to  approve  of  an  improved  design 
of  i^d.  Post  Card  (which  differs  from  the  current  issue  in  the  manner  in  which 
the  figures  of  value  are  represented  in  the  stamp,  and  by  the  addition  of  the  words 
'  Penny  Halfpenny '  in  a  tablet  below  the  central  circle)  being  substituted  for  the  one 
at  present  in  use.  "Joseph  Cook." 

Owing  to  this  card  also  exceeding  Union  dimensions  it  was  cut  down, 
after  being  in  issue  a  month  or  two,  to  141  x  87  mm.  and  148  x  82  mm.,  the 
waratah  ornamentation  suffering  considerably  in  the  process. 

It  having  been  decided  in  any  further  printings  to  omit  the  words  "One 
hundred  years"  from  the  stamp,  a  proof  was  submitted  on  the  14th  January, 
1896,  in  which  those  words  had  been  discarded,  and  the  lower  portion  of  the 
band  filled  in  with  a  conventional  waratah.  At  the  same  time  the  natural 
waratah  was  removed  from  the  left-hand  side  of  the  card. 

Lithographed  in  clear  blue  on  pale  straw  card.     Size,  140  x  89  mm. 

The  following  is  the  Gazette  notice  : 

[6805]  "Postal  and  Electric  Telegraph  Department, 

"General  Post  Office,  Sydney, 

"  IJth  February,    1896. 

"  His  Excellency  the  Governor,  with  the  advice  of  the  Executive  Council,  has, 
under  the  provisions  of  the  7th  Section  of  the  Postage  Acts  Amendment  Act,  56  Vic. 
No.  31,  approved  of  certain  alterations  being  made  in  the  design  of  the  i^d.  Post 
Card,  which  consist  in  the  removal  of  the  waratah  from  the  left-hand  side  of  the  card, 
and  the  substitution  of  an  emblematic  waratah  and  leaves  for  the  words  '  One 
Hundred  Years'  in  the  stamp  denoting  the  value.  "Joseph  Cook." 

REFERENCE   LIST. 

I.    Inland  Single  Cards. 

ist  October,  1875.     Stamp  of  1864.     Border  112x85  mm.     Very  thin  white  card, 

122x8=;  mm.  J       .   , 

•^  id.,  pmk. 

(?)  February,   1876.     Stamp  of  1864.     Border  115x68  mm.     [a)  Very  thin  white 
card,     {b)  Thick  white,  yellowish,  and  bluish  card,  118  x  70  mm.  (size  varies). 

id.  (a),  pink.     Type  I. 

id.  {b),  pink,  rose,  deep  rose.     Type  I. 

id.  {b),  pink,  pale  pink,  rose,  deep  rose,  marone.     Type  II. 

15th  October,   1877.     Stamp  of  1864.     No  border.     Thick  white  and  bluish  card, 
151  x  80  mm.  (size  varies). 

id.,  bright  rose-pink. 

16th  August,  1888.     Stamp  of  1888.     Name  in  arch.     No  border.     Pale  buff  card 
(shades),  152  x  84  to  164  x  89  mm.     Several  variations  in  size  of  design. 

id.,  purple. 


254  THE  POST  CARDS  OF  AEIV  SOUTH  WALES. 

ist  January,  1890.  Stamp  of  1888.  Name  in  straight  line.  Stout  to  medium  buff 
card,  160x79,  162x90,  166x91!  and  169x88  mm.  Several  variations 
in  size  of  design. 

id.,  purple. 

1892.     Same  as  last,  but  white  card,  159  x  90  to  164  x  90  mm. 

id.,  purple. 

8th  September,  1896.    Stamp  of  1888.    Name  in  riband.    Pale  straw  card,  140  x  90  mm. 

id.,  purple. 

II.    Inland  Reply  Cards. 

5th  January,  1883.  Stamp  of  1864.  Last  line  of  inscriptions  98  mm.  Pale  buff 
card,  126  X  88  mm. 

id.,  rose,  pale  rose. 

1886.    Stamp  of  1864.    Last  line  of  inscriptions  102  mm.    White  card,  126  x  88  mm. 

id.,  bright  rose-pink. 

(?)  April,  1890.     Stamp  of  1888.     White  card,  126  x  88  mm. 

id.,  purple. 

III.    2d.  AND  3d.  "Foreign"  Cards. 

ist  January,  1889.  Special  Jubilee  Stamp.  Border  150x78  mm.  Medium  white 
card,  155  X  90  mm. 

2d.,  cobalt-blue. 
3d.,  green. 

14th  August,   1890.     Similar  to  last,  with  additional  inscription  "and  for  France." 

3d.,  green. 

2nd  January,  1891.  Same  stamp  as  1889  issue,  but  inscription  altered  and  border 
153  X  79  mm.     Primrose  card,  165  x  90  mm. 

2d.,  cobalt-blue. 

IV.    International  Single  and  Reply  Cards. 

23rd  October,  1891.  Stamp;  frame  of  Centennial  type  with  figures  in  centre. 
Waratah  on  left.    Errors  in  inscription.    Primrose  card,  164  x  93  to  163  x  90  mm. 

id.,  blue. 

Same  stamp.     No  waratah.     Inscription  correct.     Primrose  card,  127  x  82  mm. 

id.  and  id.,  blue. 

August,  1892.     Single  card  cut  down  to  150  x  87  mm. 

id.,  blue. 

June,  1895.  Stamp  with  altered  type  of  figures.  Inscriptions  corrected.  Waratah  on 
left.     Straw  card,  153  x  90  mm. 

id.,  blue. 

August,  1895.     Same  as  last,  cut  down  to  148  x  82  mm. 

id.,  blue. 

27th  February,  1896.  Stamp  similar  to  last,  but  "One  hundred  years"  omitted.  No 
waratah.     Pale  straw  card,  140  x  89  mm. 

id.,  clear  blue. 


[     355     ] 


Clje  Stamps  of  ^ritislj  tfast  %ixwd. 


NDER  date  of  the  I2th  August  last  we  have  received 
the  following  interesting  details  from  Mr.  Cyril  Hugh 
Bowden,  of  the  Eastern  and  S.A.  Telegraph  Company 
at  Zanzibar.  The  letters  referred  to  by  our  correspondent 
are  appended,  and  some  series  of  figures  referring  to  the 
numbers  of  stamps  surcharged  will  probably  be  found 
of  value,  as  they  have  to  all  appearances  been  supplied  from  official 
sources.  The  stamp  issues  of  British  East  Africa  have  certainly  not 
erred  on  the  side  of  scantiness,  but  they  represent  a  transitional  period 
of  our  African  possession,  and  can  hardly  fail  in  the  future  to  have  an 
abiding  historical  interest. 

Reports  having  been  circulated,  which  have  found  expression  in  certain 
journals  connected  with  Philately,  casting  doubts  on  the  necessity  for  the 
frequent  overprinting  and  surcharging  of  Zanzibar  and  British  East  Africa 
stamps — and  even  imputing  interested  motives  on  the  part  of  Mr.  T. 
Remington,  who  holds  the  dual  position  of  Postmaster-General  of  Zanzibar 
and  of  the  British  East  Africa  Protectorate — I,  to  satisfy  myself  and  other 
Philatelists,  addressed  a  letter  on  the  subject  to  the  Postmaster-General, 
a  copy  of  which  communication,  and  Mr.  Remington's  original  reply  thereto, 
I  now  enclose. 

In  response  to  Mr.  Remington's  most  courteous  offer,  I  visited  him  at 
his  office,  and  was  there  shown  books  and  other  data  bearing  on  the  subject, 
and  afforded  all  the  information  one  could  have  possibly  desired. 

Of  Mr.  Remington's  do;ia  fides,  and  of  the  strict  regularity  in  the  conduct 
of  his  department,  no  vestige  of  doubt  can  now  remain  in  my  mind,  and  the 
explanations  which  he  unhesitatingly  gave  me  concerning  the  question  at 
issue  were  both  convincing  and  conclusive,  backed  up  as  they  were  by 
indisputable  documentary  evidence. 

At  the  date  when  the  transfer  was  effected  of  the  Imperial  British  East 
Africa  territories  to  the  Imperial  Government,  namely,  July  ist,  1895,  no 
arrangements  had  been  made  regarding  a  fresh  issue  of  stamps,  etc. ; 
consequently,  those  of  the  old  Company  had  to  be  overprinted.  Of  these 
there  existed  but  a  limited  supply  at  Mombasa,  the  directors,  for  reasons 
of  their  own,  which  have  since  become  abundantly  clear  to  collectors,  having 
refused  to  despatch  a  fresh  consignment  which  had  been  indented  for  shortly 
before  the  transfer. 

Not  wishing  to  trespass  too  much  on  your  valuable  space,  I  beg  leave 
to  enclose  separately  the  particulars  kindly  furnished  by  Mr.  Remington 
of  the  stamps  at  his  disposal  at  the  commencement  of  the  new  regime. 
and  I  think  you  will  agree  with  me  that  no  surprise  need  be  felt  that 
surcharges  should  have  so  speedily  followed  under  the  Imperial  Adminis- 
tration,  especially    when    it    is   stated    that    nearly   eleven    months    elapsed 


256  THE  STAMPS  OF  BRITISH  EAST  AFRICA. 

before  the  first  instalment  of  the  present  regular  issue  was  received  at 
Mombasa.  So  much  delay  was  there  in  the  execution  of  the  order  after 
it  had  been  given  to  the  engravers,  that  the  emergency  had  to  be  met  by 
the  importation  of  Indian  adhesives,  which  were  in  due  course  overprinted. 

The  transfer  of  the  Indian  Post  Office  at  Zanzibar  to  the  Sultan's 
Government  took  place  on  the  loth  November,  1895,  and  the  Indian 
stamps  then  in  stock  were  handed  over  to  the  Government  printing 
establishment  to  be  overprinted  "Zanzibar";  but,  owing  to  an  insufficiency 
of  the  requisite  type,  and  to  the  employment  of  more  or  less  ignorant 
native  workmen,  several  small  errors  resulted  during  the  process.  These 
mistakes  have  been  regarded  in  some  quarters  as  deliberately  intentional, 
or  at  least  avoidable,  whereas  the  reverse  was  the  case. 

To  the  simple  and  but  partially  educated  African,  there  appears  little 
difference  between  a  small  b  and  an  inverted  q,  and  it  is  not  surprising 
that  he  should  regard  the  substitution  of  the  one  letter  for  the  other  as 
a  stroke  of  ingenuity,  in  the  event  of  the  supply  of  type  representing 
either  character  failing.  That  d  should  in  a  few  instances  have  been 
substituted  for  /;  appears  somewhat  less  pardonable ;  but  doubtless  His 
Highness's  subjects  reason  with  regard  to  letters  much  as  did  Juliet,  when 
she  asked  herself,  "  What 's  in  a  name  .-' " 

The  Zanzibar  Government  Post   Office  having  been  established,  orders 

were  promptly  sent  to   Messrs.  De  La  Rue  for  a  supply  of  adhesives  of 

the  design  now  current.     The  firm  in  question  promised  to  carry  out  the 

order   within    six    months.      As   a    matter   of    fact    nearly   a   year   elapsed 

before   the   delivery   of   a    portion   of   this   order,  and,  with    regard   to  the 

remainder,   a    still    further    delay    ensued,    owing    to    the    case    containing 

the   stamps    having  been    over-carried.      As    a   result   of   these   delays   the 

issue  of    fresh   provisionals   was   rendered    unavoidable ;    but   I   have   proofs 

that  in  no  instances  were  said  provisionals  issued  on  the  sole  responsibility 

of    the    Postmaster-General,   who    never    failed    to    consult    Her   Majesty's 

representative    and    Sir    Lloyd    Matthews    before    acting,    and    who    has 

throughout    proved   himself    most    zealous    in    maintaining   the   dignity   of 

his   department,   and    has    ever    regretted    the   necessity    for   a   proceeding 

which    was   bound    to  be   open   to    misconstruction    and    misrepresentation, 

especially  at  the  hands  of  certain  classes  of  dealers  who  affect  a  virtuous 

indignation  upon  occasion  when  they  are  unable  to  satisfy  the  requirements 

of   their   customers,  yet,  on    the   other   hand,  display  a   sweet   and   gentle 

resignation  when  such  demands  can  be  met  by  shady  or  even  illegitimate 

methods. 


"  Zanzibar,  yw/y  9///,  1897. 
"The  Postmaster-General,  Zanzibar. 

"  Dear  Sir, — Considerable  doubts  having  been  aroused  in  the  minds  of 
serious  Philatelists  and  others  interested  in  the  pursuit,  as  to  the  necessity  for  the* 
numerous  varied  surcharges  and  interchanges  in  connection  with  the  postage  stamps 
issued  by  the  local  and  the  E.E.A.  Protectorate  Post  Offices,  both  of  which  ad- 
ministrations you  control,  I  should  esteem  it  a  favour  if  you  would  kindly  afford 
me  some  explanation  concerning  the  raison  d'etre  of  the  surcharges,  etc.,  above 
alluded  to,  so  that  I  may  be  in  a  position  to  satisfy  myself  and  others  that  your 


THE  STAMPS  OF  BRITISH  EAST  AFRICA. 


257 


action  in  the  matter  has  been  induced  purely  by  the  exigencies  of  the  Service,  and 
not,  as  some  would  seem  to  imply,  by  speculative  motives. 

"  I  am,  dear  Sir,  your  obedient  Servant,         "  C.  H.  Bowden." 


"No.  257  of  1897. 
"Zanzibar  Post  Office,  July  16th,  1897. 
"  From  the  Postmaster-General, 

British  East  Africa  and  Zanzibar,  Zanzibar. 

"To  C.  H.  Bowden,  Esq.,  Zanzibar. 

"Sir, — I  beg  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter,  dated  9th  July,  and 
to  inform  you  that  I  shall  be  pleased  to  afford  you  any  information  concerning 
the  stamps  of  British  East  Africa  and  Zanzibar  that  you  may  desire.  I  think,  how- 
ever, it  would  be  more  satisfactory  if  you  would  make  it  convenient  to  call  at  the 
Post  Office,  and  then  you  would  be  able  to  refer  to  the  accounts  for  any  details  that 
may  be  of  interest  to  you.  "  I  have  the  honour  to  be.  Sir, 

"  Your  most  obedient  Servant, 
"Thos.  U.  Remington,  Postmaster-General." 


Indian, 

Indian  stamps 

supplied  to  Zanzibar  to  be 

Stamps  transferred  from  the  Zanzibar  stock 

overprinted. 

to  British  East  Africa  and  overprinted. 

Nov.  loth.            Dec.  14/^. 

Nov.  23  (St'  Dec.  18.                Feb.  17. 

ia.         ... 

5,457 

24,000 

7,440 

3,600 

I  a. 

5,014 

...       24,000 

7,680         . 

3,600 

\h  a. 

13,851 

1 2,000 

9,800 

2,400 

2  a. 

4,285 

18,000 

6,800 

2,400 

2i  a. 

3,354 

30,000 

9,600 

3,600 

3  a. 

7,876 

— 

1,000 

1,560 

4  a. 

7,381 

2,400 

1,000 

2,400 

6  a. 

4,321 

1,600 

1,000 

960 

8  a. 

4,546 

1,200 

1,000 

960 

12  a. 

3,073 

— 

1 ,000 

— 

I  r. 

5,897 

— 

2,000 

1,200 

2  r. 

942 

192 

200 

192 

3r. 

940 

192 

200 

192 

Sr. 

945 

192 

200 

192 

Transferred  from  Zanzibar  to 

Indian   Stamps 

SUPPLIED  TO  Zanzibar. 

British  Ea.st  Africa. 

Indian  stamps 

taken  over  from  Consulate. 

Supplied  to  Mombasa.         Balance  used  in 

Zanzibar. 

ia. 

29,457 

1 1 ,040 

...       18,417 

I  a. 

29,014 

11,280 

••       17,734 

■ia. 

... 

..         25851 

12,200 

..       13,650 

2  a. 

... 

..         22,285 

9,200 

..       13,085 

-\  a- 

... 

33-354 

13,200 

..       20,154 

3  a. 

7,896 

2,560 

5,336 

4  a. 

... 

9,781 

3,400 

•■         6,381 

6  a. 

5,921 

1,960 

3,961 

8  a. 

5,746 

1 ,960 

•■         3,786 

12  a. 

3,073 

1,000 

2,073 

I  r. 

... 

5,897 

3,200 

2,697 

2  r. 

... 

1,134 

392 

742 

3  r- 

... 

1,132 

392 

740 

5  r. 

1,137 

392 

745 

258 


PHILATELIC  NOTES. 


Company's  Stamps  overprinted  "British  East  Africa." 

Balance  of  Stamps  on 

hand  on  June  30,  1895. 

4980  at    \  anna 

r.      a. 
■        155     10 

520  at  2    Rs 

r.      a. 
1040    0 

1040  „  I       „ 

65    0 

719  „  3      „           

2157     0 

180  „  2      „ 

22    8 

868  „  4      „          

3472     0 

4020  „   7.\     „ 

..      628    2 

568  „  5      „          

2840    0 

2230  „  3      ,, 

.      418    2 

1400  2^  a.  Envelopes 

218   12 

3240  „  4      ,, 

810    0 

200  Large  Reg.  Envelopes 

25     0 

3780  „  4i     „ 

.     1063    2 

125  Small         „          „ 

15   10 

780  „  5       „ 

•       243  12 

1500  I  a.  Post  Cards 

93  12 

1 140  »  7*     „ 

•       534    6 

1200  1  a.     „ 

37    8 

1900  „  8       „ 
2349  »  I    Rs. 

.      950    0 
•     2349    0 

Total  Rs. 

'7,139    4 

The  date  of  receipt  of  the  present  issue  of  B.  E.  A.  stamp  was  May  \<^tli, 
1896,  and  only  5040  of  i  a.,  i  a.,  2  a.,  and  5280  of  2ia.  were  received. 


ilatclir  Holes. 


Note.  —  The  co-ope/at  ion  of  Philatelisls  is  itiviled  in  order  to  make  I  his  column  of  a  varied 

and  interesting  nature. 


M 


HOLLAND    15^.,    1867. 

HE  issue  of  1867  has  been  doubtless  one  of  the  main  factors  in  the 
increasing  interest  taken  in  the  stamps  of  the  Netherlands.  Of 
handsome  and  well-executed  design,  with  variations  of  type  as  regards  the 
expressed  values,  and  with  notable  difference  in  paper  and  perforation,  this 
series  of  stamps  has  much  to  commend  itself  to  the  specialist.  In  the  last- 
named  respect  the  greatest  differences  are  to  be  found,  the  perforations 
being  apparently  bewildering;  but  according  to  the  more  sensible  modern 
system  of  taking  note  rather  of  the  different  perforating  machines  employed, 
than  the  actual  gauge  of  the  perforations,  the  issue  can  be  readily  and 
pleasantly  subdivided.  The  first  series  of  perforation  are  undoubtedly  the 
12  J  X  12,  being  identical  with  the  preceding  issue  of  1864.  The  measurements 
most  commonly  found  vary  between  13  and  14^,  and  can  be  subdivided  into 
two  sets,  one  of  which  is  apparently  a  fine  pin-hole  perforation.  The  scarcest 
set  is,  however,  that  generally  known  as  "large  perf,"  measuring  10  x  loi, 
of  which  the  10  c.  only  is  frequently  met  with,  occasionally  on  hard  bluish 
paper.  The  5c.  occurs  but  rarely,  notably  unused;  and  the  20c.  still  more 
so,  it  being  a  very  rare  stamp  unpostmarked.  It  is  generally  believed  that 
only  these  three  values  are  found  there,  but  in  Messrs.  Stanley  Gibbons' 
new  catalogue  the  15  c.,  red-brown,  is  also  listed.  In  a  review  of  this 
publication  by  our  esteemed  contemporary  the  Deutsche  Briefmarken 
Zcitiing,  the  query  is  raised  as  to  what  ground  exists  for  the  inclusion  of 
this  value.  We  are  happy  to  be  enabled  to  satisfy  our  friends'  reasonable 
doubt  by  the  best  of  all  evidence— the  possession  of  the  stamp  itself.     The 


PHILATELIC  NOTES.  259 

specimen  in  question,  which  is  obliterated,  has  been  for  several  years  in  the 
writer's  European  collection,  and  having  been  examined  and  approved  of 
by  many  keen  judges,  may  be  taken  as  a  satisfactory  reason  for  its 
inclusion  among  the  known  varieties  of  Dutch  stamps. 


mM 


THE  5 J.    ON  \s.   SIERRA   LEONE   OF  1884. 

HE  postal  existence  of  this  variety  has  been  referred  to  in  our  last  two 
issues  (pp.  221  and  237).  In  the  former  Messrs.  Whitfield  King 
quoted  a  letter  from  the  Sierra  Leone  postmaster,  under  date  of  April  loth 
of  this  year,  in  which  he  stated  that  "  as  far  as  he  could  gather  the  stamps 
were  used  for  postage  and  not  for  postage  and  revenue."  In  the  latter  Mr. 
George  Campbell  cited  a  letter  received  by  him  at  the  time  of  issue  from 
Mr.  Griffith,  then  Colonial  Secretary  at  Freetown,  to  the  effect  that  these 
stamps  had  been  issued  for  fiscal  purposes  only — an  opinion  that  has 
apparently  found  general  acceptance  up  to  the  present  time.  Messrs. 
Whitfield  King  &  Co.  are  naturally  jealous  of  any  insinuation  of  illegitimacy 
as  to  their  new  Philatelic  offspring,  and  have  sent  us  the  following  interesting 
and  pertinent  communication.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  Acting  Postmaster- 
General  at  Freetown,  under  date  of  July  9th  last,  categorically  states  the 
stamps  were  surcharged  and  used  both  for  postal  and  fiscal  purposes — a 
statement  that  is  presumably  made  on  official  knowledge,  and  that  hardly 
admits  of  any  refutation.  There  can  be  little  doubt  that,  in  any  case,  the 
use  of  the  stamps  was  but  limited.  As  now  seems  assured,  they  were 
prepared  for  postal  use,  and  even  were  their  use  denied,  their  Philatelic 
value  would  be  on  a  par  with  the  V.R.  and  the  8d.,  brown,  of  this  country, 
and  many  similar  stamps. 

"Ipswich,  Sept.  \^th,  1897. 
"To  the  Editor  of  The  Londo?i  Philatelist, 

"Sierra  Leone  e^s.  on  is.,  of  May,  1884. 

"  Dear  Sir, — Before  acquiring  the  remainders  of  these  stamps  we  made 
careful  enquiry,  and  are  satisfied  that  they  were  issued  for  postage  and  revenue 
purposes.  First  of  all  we  asked  a  correspondent  in  the  Colony  to  make  encjuiry 
about  them,  and,  if  possible,  to  get  an  official  letter  stating  explicitly  what  they  were 
intended  for.  The  result  was  the  letter  which  you  published  in  your  July  issue. 
Since  then  we  have  learnt  that  an  official  in  the  G.P.O.,  London,  had  also  written  out 
for  information,  and  he  has  kindly  placed  the  reply  at  our  disposal,  with  permission  to 
publish  it.     The  original  letter  is  sent  herewith. 

"  Further  than  this,  we  have  come  into  possession  of  a  private  letter  of  Mr.  T. 
Rrsely  Griffith,  who  was  Colonial  Secretary  of  Sierra  Leone  at  the  time  the  stamps 
were  issued.  In  this  letter,  which  is  dated  August  4th,  1885,  the  following  passage 
occurs : 

'"There  was  also  a  number  of  is.  stamps  converted  locally  into  5s.  stamps — 
"Postage  and  Revenue" — they  were  not  known  long  enough  to  be  used  for  postal 
purposes,  and  their  use  as  Revenue  stamps  was  discontinued  when  the  other  larger 
stamps  were  brought  out.' 

"  We  have  therefore  the  opinion  of  three  different  officials,  all  of  whom  are  agreed 
that  the  stamp  was  issued  for  postal  use,  although  all  are  not  agreed  as  to  their  use  as 


26o  PHILATELIC  NOTES. 

Revenue  stamps.  We  are  inclined  to  think  Mr.  Cleugh  made  a  mistake  when  he  said 
that  the  stamps  were  for  postage  07ily,  and  that  they  were,  as  stated  in  the  other  two 
letters  quoted,  issued  for  postage  and  revenue.  We  enclose  for  your  inspection  the 
original  letter  of  Mr.  Risely  Griffith,  who  is  the  same  Mr.  Griffith  whom  Mr.  Campbell 
quotes,  and  who  would  surely  not  have  written  two  letters  so  directly  at  variance  with 
each  other.  Unless  Mr.  Campbell  can  produce  the  original  letter,  we  must  consider 
that  his  memory  is  at  fault.  Mr.  C.  J.  Phillips  informs  us  that  he  has  seen  a  postaliy 
used  specimen. 

"The  fact  that  the  Post  Office  of  Sierra  Leone  has  records  of  the  stamp  being 
issued,  with  the  number  printed  and  the  exact  date  of  issue,  is  strong  corrobora- 
tion of  the  other  evidence  we  have  given.  Furthermore,  there  is  also  the  surcharge 
on  the  stamp  itself;  the  stamp  bears  the  word  'Postage'  and  not  Revenue;  if  it  was 
intended  to  convert  it  into  a  revenue  stamp,  the  word  '  Postage '  would  have  been 
barred  out  and  '  Revenue '  overprinted.  In  confirmation  of  this  view,  we  send  you 
a  set  of  Revenue  stamps  which  were  issued  in  the  same  year,  1884,  and  which  you 
will  observe  are  the  postage  stamps  surcharged  '  Revenue '  and  the  word  '  Postage ' 

barred  out. 

"  We  are,  dear  Sir,  yours  faithfully, 

"  Whitfield  King  &  Co." 

"General  Post  Office,  Freetown,  Sierra  Leone, 

"////>'  9///,  1897. 

"Sir, — In  reply  to  your  letter  of  the  4th  ultimo,  concerning  the  is.,  green, 
Sierra  Leone  stamps,  overprinted  5s.,  I  have  to  inform  you  that  forty  sheets  of  is. 
postage  stamps  were  surcharged  5s.  on  30th  May,  1884,  and  were  used  for  both 
postal  and  revenue  purposes. 

"  The  two  specimens  are  returned  herewith. 

"  I  am.  Sir,  your  obedient  Servant, 
(Signature  Illegible), 

"  Acting  Col.  Postmaster-General." 

Messrs.  Whitfield  King  have  kindly  submitted  to  us  an  entire  pane  of  60 
of  this  stamp,  in  10  horizontal  rows  of  6,  which  discloses  some  slight  varieties 
of  the  surcharge,  mainly  attributable  to  defective  printing.  There  is  assuredly 
no  indication  of  fiscal  purposes  on  the  stamp  or  surcharge  ;  but  it  is  curious 
that  the  latter  should  repeat  "  Sierra  Leone,"  which  is  already  plainly 
indicated  on  the  design.  In  the  case  of  the  fiscal  stamps,  of  which  specimens 
have  also  been  submitted  to  us,  the  word  "  Postage "  is  barred  out,  and 
"Revenue"  overprinted  below — thus  supporting  Messrs.  Whitfield  King's 
theory. 


[        26l         J 


#aasicrnal  Moles. 


THE  S.S.S.S.  MEETING   ON  OCTOBER   15. 

|e  understand  that  a  general  meeting  of  all  those  members  of  this 
Society  residing  within  a  reasonable  distance  from  the  Metropolis  will 
be  summoned  for  Friday,  October  15,  at  5  p.m.,  at  the  rooms  of  the  London 
Philatelic  Society,  Effingham  House,  Arundel  Street,  W.C.  A  report  will  be 
presented  to  those  present,  and  a  statement  as  regards  the  finances,  which, 
we  have  reason  to  believe,  will  be  found  on  a  satisfactory  basis.  We  are 
further  informed  that  resolutions  to  the  following  effect,  if  not  in  these 
precise  terms,  will  be  proposed,  and  we  think  it  will  be  evident  that  there 
is  much  to  commend  itself  therein  : 

"That  in  order  to  carry  out  the  objects  for  which  the  S.S.S.S.  was  formed,  and  to 
actively  carry  on  the  crusade  against  speculative  and  unnecessary  issues,  inaugurated 
by  the  Society,  the  time  has  now  arrived  when  that  work  can  be  more  effectively 
promoted  by  a  Committee  composed  of  collectors  only." 

"  That  the  Special  Committee  appointed  by  the  London  Philatelic  Society  having 
expressed  their  willingness  to  undertake  the  consideration  of  all  speculative  and 
unnecessary  issues,  and  to  announce  their  decisions  from  time  to  time  in  The  London 
Philatelist  (the  official  organ  of  the  Society)  and  other  Philatelic  journals," 

"That  this  Society  be  dissolved,  and  all  papers,  documents,  etc.,  relating  to  this 
question  be  handed  over  to  the  Secretary  of  the  London  Philatelic  Society  for  this 
purpose." 

We  earnestly  hope  that  a  large  number  of  members  will  be  present. 
The  movement  was  initiated  in  response  to  a  general  feeling  of  uneasiness 
at  the  hordes  of  speculative  issues — a  sentiment  that  has  certainly  gained 
additional  strength  by  the  plentiful  crop  of  Philatelic  weeds  that  has  sprung 
up  during  the  past  three  months.  Some  influential  body  is  needed  to  warn 
or  advise  collectors  as  to  the  nature  of  speculative  new  issues,  and  it  is 
certainly  feasible  that  this  advice  should  emanate  from  the  collectors  them- 
selves through  their  elected  Committee.  There  should  also,  in  our  opinion, 
certainly  be  a  paid  Secretary — a  small  stipend  would  amply  suffice,  and  we 
are  convinced  that  a  suitable  occupant  for  the  post  can  be  found  without  any 
difficulty. 


IMPERIAL  PENNY  POSTAGE. 

HE    full    text    of   the    proceedings    of   the    Conference   between    Mr. 
Chamberlain    and   the   Premiers   of   the   self-governing   Colonies  last 


month  has  been  issued  as  a  Parliamentary  Paper,  from  which  we  gather  that 

after   some   considerable   discussion    as   regards    postal    communications,    it 

appeared   that  in   the  present  financial  circumstances  of   the   Colonies   an 

Imperial   Penny  Post  was  impracticable,  although  the   Prime   Ministers  of 

the  Cape  Colony  and  Natal  declared  themselves  in  favour  of  such  a  step. 
69a 


262  OCCASIONAL  NOTES. 

With  regard  to   Imperial    Penny    Postage,   Mr.  Chamberlain    is   quoted    as 
having  observed  : 

"  I  also  should  mention  the  desire  which  is  widely  felt,  and  which  I  share,  for  an 
improved  postal  communication  with  the  Colonies.  I  believe  that  that  matter  rests 
entirely  with  the  Colonies  themselves,  and  that  they  have  revenue  difficulties  in  the 
matter  which  have  hitherto  prevented  us  coming  to  any  conclusion.  But  I  confess 
that  I  think  that  one  of  the  very  first  things  to  bind  together  the  sister  nations  is  to 
have  the  readiest  and  the  easiest  possible  communication  between  their  several  units, 
and  as  far  as  this  country  is  concerned,  I  believe  we  should  be  quite  ready  to  make 
any  sacrifice  of  revenue  that  may  be  required  in  order  to  secure  a  Universal  Penny 
Post  throughout  the  Empire." 

It  is  evident  that  the  Imperial  Penny  Postage  has  no  longer  any  oppo- 
sition in  this  country,  and  its  ultimate  adoption  should  be  a  certainty. 


BOGUS  JUBILEE  STAMPS. 

R.  Edgar  S.  Weston  gives  us  news  from  "  gay  Lutetia  "  of  an  instance 
of  Anglophil  feeling  that  will  hardly  be  appreciated  by  Philatelists  on 
this  side  of  the  Channel.  It  appears  that  a  very  soi-disant  Jubilee  issue  of 
Great  Britain  is  on  view  in  various  stationers'  shops  in  Paris  at  the  present 
time.  The  "  stamps "  are  oblong  in  shape,  containing  portraits  of  various 
members  of  the  Royal  Family,  and  the  series  is  as  follows  :  id.,  id.,  i^d.,  2d., 
3d.,  4d.,  6d.,  \}!\& prix fixe  \i€va.^  2  fr.  75  c.  This  trash  emanates  from  London, 
and  is  elsewhere  referred  to. 


DEATH   OF  MR.   H.   GREMMEL. 

|e  regret  to  have  to  announce  the  death  of  this  well-known  New  York 
dealer,  who  was  well  known  as  the  publisher  of  the  Post  Office. 
Mr.  Gremmel  had  succeeded  in  building  up  a  fine  business,  and  had  made 
a  wide  circle  of  friends,  to  whom   his  untimely  decease  will  be  a  painful 

surprise. 

■ ♦- 

THE  LATE  SENOR  DURO. 


'^ 


HE  amount  of  our  space  (and  time)  devoted  to  the  Philatelic 
Exhibition  necessarily  deferred  our  mention  of  various  matters,  one 
of  which,  we  regret  to  say,  is  the  removal  of  this  well-kownn  name  from 
the  roll  of  living  Philatelists.  To  the  older  collector  the  late  Senor  Antonio 
Fernandez  Duro  was  well  known,  not  only  by  his  writings  but  also  through 
the  personality  of  his  fellow-countryman  and  friend  in  this  country,  the  late 
Senor  V.  G.  de  Ysasi,  formerly  Vice-President  of  the  London  Philatelic 
Society.  Although  occupied  with  administrative  details  in  the  Spanish 
Postal  Service,  in  which  he  had  risen  after  over  thirty  years'  service  to 
the  highest  rank,  Senor  Duro  yet  found  time  to  write  several  works  of  a 
postal  and  Philatelic  nature,  the  most  important  of  which— the  Rescna 
Historico-descriptioii  de  los  Sellos  de  Cori'eos  de  Espana — was  published  in 
1 88 1.     It  is  beyond  doubt  that  Senor  Duro's  compendious  and  exhaustive 


OCCASIONAL  NOTES.  263 

work  on  the  Spanish  Postage  System  has  formed  the  basis  of  all  subsequent 
treatises  on  the  Spanish  stamps,  and  that  he  has  thereby  earned  a  title  to 
the  lasting  gratitude  of  Philatelists.  An  interesting  item  connected  herewith 
is  the  permission  granted  by  the  Government  to  the  author  to  use  a  special 
franking  stamp  for  his  private  correspondence,  a  label  depicting  an  open 
volume,  that  is  doubtless  familiar  to  many  of  our  readers. 


THE  LEIPSIC  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION. 

LARGE  and  important  Industrial  Exhibition  that  will  be  held  at 
this  important  German  city  from  the  20th  of  this  month  until  the 
1st  of  next,  will  also  have  associated  with  it  a  Philatelic  Exhibition.  From 
the  German  papers  we  gather  that  there  will  be  some  very  fine  lots  of 
stamps  on  view,  and  that  collectors  would  therefore  do  far  worse  than 
pay  a  visit  to  the  Saxon  commercial  capital.  In  close  proximity  to  Berlin 
and  Dresden,  a  favourable  opportunity  is  afforded  to  make  a  pleasant  little 
circular  tour,  and  if  stamps  are  sold  in  Germany  as  cheap  as  a  certain 
section  would  like,  profit  might  certainly  be  combined  with  pleasure ! 
Apropos  of  exhibitions,  it  is  certainly  suggestive  of  reflection — to  use  a 
very  mild  term— that  the  official  organ  of  the  largest  Philatelic  Society 
in  the  world  —  that  of  Dresden  —  with  a  large  number  of  foreign  and 
British  members,  should  have  absolutely  ignored  the  late  Philatelic 
Exhibition  of  London.  Considering  the  magnitude  of  this  undertaking, 
and  its  importance  in  the  Philatelic  world,  such  a  system  of  "boycotting" 
can  have  no  reasonable  excuse.  It  can  assuredly  not  be  for  want  of  space, 
as  comments  upon  the  changes  of  season  and  weather  generally  occupy 
a  considerable  share  of  the  editor's  meanderings ! 


AUSTRALIAN  NOTES. 
BY   OUR   SPECIAL   CORRESPONDENT. 

HE  Record  Reign  commemorative  stamps  of  New  South  Wales  were 
subjected  to  very  little  criticism  by  the  daily  papers,  the  Evening 
Neivs  only  going  to  the  length  of  a  detailed  analysis  of  each  type.  The 
id.  stamp  was  on  the  whole  approved,  although  the  lion  was  likened  to  a 
"  pasteboard  cat ! "  The  2d.  was  considered  poor  in  execution,  and  over- 
crowded with  detail ;  and  the  bold  and  striking  design  of  the  2|d.  received 
the  commendation  it  undoubtedly  deserves.  A  correspondent  of  the  Sydney 
Morning  Herald  took  exception  to  what  he  termed  the  incorrect  heraldry 
shown  in  the  design  of  the  id.  It  is  an  adaptation  of  the  Colonial  "badge," 
which  consists  of  a  cross  gules  on  a  field  argent.  The  cross  on  the  stamp 
is  shaded  with  vertical  lines,  which  in  heraldry  also  represents  red ;  but  the 
shield  is  shaded  with  horizontal  lines,  or  azure  in  heraldry.  He  also  took 
exception  to  the  shield  itself,  and  the  employment  of  a  "  royal  "  crown. 
Strictly  correct  as  the  exceptions  taken  may  be  from  the  heraldic  point 
of  view,  the   mere  fact  of  the  stamp    being    printed   in  colour  completely 


264  OCCASIONAL  NOTES. 

does  away  with  the  motive  for  denoting  tinctures  and  metals  by  lines,  etc., 
which,  of  course,  was  designed  to  enable  such  to  be  represented  in  black 
and  white.  Apart  from  this  the  design  never  pretended  to  be  anything 
more  than  an  adaptation  of  a  badge  ;  and  even  if  the  exigencies  of  the 
engraving  admitted  of  the  correct  heraldic  shading,  the  rest  of  the  design 
must  have  been  either  meaningless  or  conflicting  with  the  badge.  However, 
the  letter  gave  rise  to  a  persistent  rumour  that  the  id.  stamp  was  to  be 
immediately  withdrawn,  a  rumour  which  seemed  to  be  confirmed  by  the 
fact  that  the  old  Centennial  id.  stamps  were  being  sold  at  the  General 
Post  Office.  These  were  merely  remainders,  which  it  was  decided  to 
exhaust  rather  than  to  destroy  them.  The  Postmaster  -  General  (the 
Hon.  J.  Cook)  has  officially  announced  that  no  change  is  to  be  made, 
and  the  stamp  is  not  to  be  withdrawn. 

******** 

There  has  been  a  gay  gamble  in  the  "  Hospital  Stamps."  Within  ten 
days  the  3000  half-crown  stamps  reserved  for  sale  at  the  head  office  were 
sold  out,  and  speculators  at  once  sought  out  the  metropolitan  and  suburban 
branch  offices  for  supplies.  These  soon  were  exhausted,  and  telegrams 
were  sent  to  the  country  offices ;  but  whether  the  postmasters  had  got  scent 
of  a  possible  rise  or  not,  there  was  no  response.  "  All  sold  out "  was  the 
reply.  Then  the  boom  commenced !  The  secretary  to  the  Hospital  Fund 
had  laid  in  a  stock,  and  these  were  distributed  amongst  several  of  the 
leading  licensed  stamp  vendors,  who  kindly  undertook  to  sell  them  at  a 
premium,  the  profit  going  to  the  fund.  The  scheme  has  worked  admirably 
for  the  project,  for  the  price  gradually  rose  to  5s.,  then  los.,  and  last  week 
several  were  sold  at  15s.  each.  Of  course,  private  speculators  are  reaping 
the  benefit  of  the  operations  by  the  "  Hospital  Ring,"  and  many  have 
cleared  out  at  a  handsome  profit ;  but  already  the  bottom  is  falling  out  of 
the  boom,  and  there  are  offers  of  large  parcels  at  7s.  6d.  The  demand  is 
based  on  the  supposition  that  an  enormous  rush  will  be  made  by  English 
and  American  collectors  for  specimens,  and  that  prices  will  eventually  go 
to  as  many  pounds  as  they  are  now  in  shillings!*  It  is  almost  unnecessary 
to  add  that  this  idea  is  cherished  by  speculators  outside  of  informed 
Philatelic  circles. 

The  IS.  stamp,  of  which  40,000  were  issued,  lasted  till  last  week,  and 
as  soon  as  the  head  office  supply  was  exhausted  prices  went  up  to  2s. 
There  will  not  be  any  remarkable  rise  above  this. 

******** 

And  now  Victoria  proposes  to  follow  the  example  set  by  New  South 
Wales,  but  without  either  the  direct  motive  of  establishing  a  special  hospital 
or  the   Record   Reign  occasion   for  commemoration.     It  is  devoutly  to  be 
hoped  that  better  counsels  will  prevail,  and  the  project  be  abandoned. 
******** 

The  "  commemorative "  designs  are  to  be  applied  to  the  N.S.W. 
post   cards   of    id.    and    id. +  id.,   the   wrapper   of    id.,   and   the   stamped 

*  There  will  assuredly  be  no  rash  for  these  "stamps"  in  Europe  I — Ed, 


OCCASIONAL  NOTES.  265 

envelopes  of  id.  and  2d.  as  soon  as  the  present  stock  of  the  Centennial 
types  is  exhausted. 

******** 

I  have  seen  proofs  of  the  3d.,  4d.,  and  6d.  of  Queensland,  with  the 
shading  removed  from  the  central  oval,  and  with  the  figures  of  value 
inserted  in  each  angle.  These  proofs  were  struck  in  blocks  of  four,  each 
cliche  showing  slight  variations  in  type. 

It  is  truly  extraordinary  that  a  comparatively  wealthy  colony  like 
Queensland  should  show  such  petty  economy  in  the  production  of  its 
postage  stamps,  an  economy  that  simply  opens  the  way  to  extensive 
fraud,  as  the  rough  and  varying  design  could  be  easily  copied,  and 
forgeries  might  be  largely  circulated  before  being  detected  even  by 
Philatelists.  Owing  to  the  variety  of  papers  without  watermark,  the 
absence  of  the  usual  safeguard  would  not  be  noticed. 


-t>' 


The  handsome  reproduction  of  Chalon's  portrait  of  Her  Majesty, 
presented  with  the  June  number  of  the  London  Philatelist,  has  been 
greatly  admired  by  your  privileged  subscribers  in  Australia.  The  beautiful 
head  so  faithfully  reproduced  on  the  early  stamps  of  Van  Diemen's  Land, 
New  Zealand,  and  Queensland  is  so  familiar  to  colonists  that  it  was  indeed 
a  treat  to  see  a  complete  copy  of  the  portrait. 

******** 

The  appointment  of  Lord  Ranfurly  to  the  Governorship  of  New 
Zealand  will  doubtless  do  much  to  popularize  Philately  in  that  colony,  as 
his  lordship  is,  I  see,  a  member  of  the  London  Society.  Early  during 
his  tenure  of  office  the  new  series  of  stamps,  so  long  heralded  for  New 
Zealand,  will  doubtless  appear.  I  understand  that  some  unforeseen  delay 
has  taken  place  in  the  production  of  these  stamps,  but  it  is  hoped  that 
they  will  appear  in  a  few  months  at  latest. 

******** 

The  greater  portion  of  the  late  Dr.  Ellison's  marvellous  collection,  or 
rather  accumulation,  of  stamps  has  just  been  purchased  by  Mr.  F.  Hagen, 
of  Sydney.  It  contains  all  the  British  and  foreign  stamps,  and  a  large 
proportion  of  the  Australians.  Some  idea  of  the  size  of  this  collection 
may  be  gleaned  from  the  fact  that  it  was  contained  in  two  cases,  and  four 
men  were  required  to  lift  them  into  a  cart,  by  which  it  was  conveyed  to 
the  Safe  Deposit  vaults.  The  good  doctor  had  a  way  of  buying  collections ; 
and,  instead  of  breaking  them  up,  he  continued  to  add  to  them  in  the 
original  albums.  There  are  some  dozens  of  these  albums,  and  the  contents 
are  truly  surprising.  One  album  containing  only  unused  stamps  catalogues 
over  ^2000,  and  this  by  no  means  represents  even  a  half  of  the  unused 
specimens  in  the  collection !  There  are  bundles  of  envelopes,  with  the 
stamps  of  various  countries  sorted  into  them,  enough  to  stock  a  large 
dealer  for  some  years  with  certain  varieties.  For  instance,  one  envelope 
contains  twelve  of  the  first  18  kr.,  Wurtemberg ;  another,  half  a  dozen  of 
the  rare  70  kr.  The  West  Indians  are  very  rich  in  fine  copies ;  New- 
foundland shows  two  of  the   is.,  scarlet  vermilion  ;    there   are   two   imperf. 


266  REVIEWS. 

7|-d.,  Canada,  unused  ;  India,  2  annas,  green,  imperf.  and  perf. ;  several 
fine  imperf.  varieties  of  Great  Britain  ;  and  unused  German  States  in 
great  profusion. 

I  noticed  my  old  friend  the  Italian  (1854)  error,  "cinque"  for  "  quaranta," 
in  deep  brown-red,  and  which  the  American  Journal  of  Philately  denounces 
as  a  reprint !  I  hope  to  prevail  upon  Mr.  Hagen  to  send  you  this  stamp 
for  your  opinion. 


THE  PHILATELIC  SOCIETY  OF   VICTORIA— ANNUAL  REPORT. 

|e  are  in  receipt  of  a  copy  of  the  Annual  Report  of  the  above  Society, 
presented   and    adopted    at    the   Annual    General    Meeting   held   on 
July  14  last. 

The  Report,  we  are  glad  to  see,  shows  our  Victorian  confreres  to  be  in  all 
respects  a  flourishing  Society.  The  number  of  members  is  sixty-seven, 
twelve  new  names  having  been  added  during  the  past  year.  Among  the 
items  of  work  accomplished  during  the  year  we  must  again  congratulate 
the  members  of  the  Society  on  the  following  : 

"  Through  the  representations  made  to  the  Postal  Department  by  the  Committee, 
the  reprinting  of  obsolete  stamps  has  been  successfully  stopped,  and  they  are  now 
able  to  inform  the  Members  and  Philatelists  generally  that  all  the  remainders  are 
destroyed.  Your  Committee  was  also  instrumental  in  assisting  the  Department  in 
the  discovery  that  used  fiscal  stamps  were  being  cleaned  and  sold  as  unused,  the 
offender  being  brought  to  justice." 

We  wish  the  Philatelic  Society  of  Victoria  still  further  success  in  its 
labours  in  the  Philatelic  cause — including  the  discouragement  of  superfluous 
issues — during  the  present  year. 


lUbuios. 


MR.   WESTOBY'S   "STAMPS   OF  EUROPE."* 

J^^f^jMfj  GE  cannot  wither  nor  custom  stale  anything  of  a  Philatelic 
|| W||  ,  nature  that  emanates  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  W.  A.  S.  Westoby, 
iy^vpLV^  and  it  must  be  a  source  of  unfeigned  pleasure  to  his 
^H^liv  numerous  friends — with  whom  we  would  fain  be  classed 
J^^_  ^  — that  he  is  still  among  us  as  a  writer  and  a  student  of  the 
-^^^^^' *^  stamps  of  Europe,   that   have   been  a  perennial    source  of 

pleasure  to  him.  Needless  to  say,  the  volume  under  review,  which  is  the 
sixty-four-page  instalment  of  a  series  of  articles  appearing  in  the  Bazaar, 
is  irreproachable  as  regards  style  and  literary  manner ;  and  although  written 
expressedly  for  the  unadvanced  collector,  will  amply  repay  perusal  by  those 
whose  years  in  the  Philatelic  service  are  many.     The  countries  treated  of 

*   The  Adhesive  Postage  Stamps  of  Europe.     By  W.  A.  S.  ^VESTOBY.     London :  L.  Upcott  Gill, 
70,  Strand,  W.C. 


NEW  ISSUES. 


267 


in  the  present  instalment  are  Alsace  and  Austro  -  Hungary,  and  the 
historically  descriptive  portion  will  be  found  to  contain  matter  that  is  as 
interesting  as  novel  to  the  majority.  The  lists  given  of  the  issued  stamps 
are  concise,  and  eschew  smaller  varieties — being  for  the  benefit  of  the 
beginner — but  we  venture  to  think  that  varieties  of  type  might  well  be 
included,  e.g.,  the  9  kr.  and  45  centes.  of  Issues  I.  in  their  two  settings  of 
the  values.  The  chapter  on  the  Mercuries  also  hardly  agrees  in  some 
respects  with  the  latest  evolution  herein,  nor  do  we  think  that  Mr.  S.  Friedl's 
third  type  quoted  will  command  much  respect.  An  excellent  and  lucid 
introduction  treats  of  all  the  component  parts  of  a  stamp  and  their  system 
of  production,  containing  moreover  well  -  chosen  advice  to  the  neophyte- 
The  illustrations  throughout  are  beautifully  rendered  in  facsimile ;  the 
paper  and  typography  are  of  the  best ;  and,  in  fact,  the  initial  volume 
holds  forth  ample  promise  of  a  masterly  and  comprehensive  series  of  books 
that  should  be  valuable  recruiters  for  the  ranks  of  Philately.  We  heartily 
congratulate  Mr.  Westoby,  as  also  the  publishers,  on  this  welcome  addition 
to  our  library,  and  shall  extend  the  like  reception  to  the  others  that  we 
trust  will  speedily  follow. 


;Uto  Issitcs, 


NOTES   OF   NEW,    AND    VARIATIONS  OF   CURRENT,    ISSUES. 

(Varieties  of  Obsolete  Stamps,  and  Discoveries,  will  be  found  under  "Philatelic  Notes.") 

IVe  do  not  profess  to  chi-onicle  everything,  but,  with  the  kind  help  of  correspondents,  are  desirous  that 
all  the  important  novelties  may  be  included.  Speculative  stamps — i.e.  those  not  really  required  for 
postal  purposes — will  be  considered  on  their  merits,  and  Jubilee  issues  will  not  be  chronicled. 

Members  of  the  London  Philatelic  Society,  and  other  readers  generally,  are  invited  to  co-operate  with  us 
in  making  the  columns  as  interesting  as  possible.  Our  foreign  readers  can  especially  help  us  in 
this  direction,  by  senditig  copies  of  any  official  documents  relative  to  changes  in  the  current  issues, 
or  early  intimation  of  any  new  issue,  accompanied,  ivhen  possible,  by  a  specimen  ;  such  information 
will  be  duly  credited  to  the  correspondent,  and,  if  desired,  the  specimen  promptly  retzirned. 
Address:   EDITOR  "LONDON  PHILATELIST,"  EFFINGHAM   HOUSE,  ArUNDEL  StREET,  StRAND, 

London,  W.C. 


BRITISH    EMPIRE. 

Cape  of  Good  Hope. — We  are  indebted 
to  Lieut.  Raby  for  specimens  of  two  pro- 
visional id.  post  cards  which  were  issued  at 
the  beginning  of  August,  owing  to  the  supply 
of  the  id.  brown  card  having  been  tem- 
porarily exhausted.  In  both  cases  the  igd. 
card  has  been  surcharged  "one  penny"  in 
two  lines  of  sans-serif  capitals,  with  the 
original  value  ruled  out.  The  two  varieties 
consist  of  A,  small  surcharge,  with  two  lines 
defacing  original  value ;  B,  a  large  type,  with 
three  lines  defacing  original  value.  One  was 
issued  later  than  the  other ;  which  came 
first  we  do  not  know,  but  surmise  the  order 
expressed  above  to  be  the  correct  order. 


Post  Cards. 
One  Penny  on  ijd.,  grey  on  btiff;  black  surcharge  ;  first 
type. 

One  Penny  on  i  id. ,  grey  on  buff;  black  surcharge ;  second 
type. 

Great  Britain. —  A  set  of  stamps, 
purporting  to  be  a  "  Diamond  Jubilee 
Commemoration  set,"  is  being  advertised 
by  a  firm  in  London  at  is.  6d.  the  series  of 
seven  values. 

We  need  scarcely  warn  our  home  readers 
that  the  stamps  are  in  no  way  official ;  but 
for  the  benefit  of  foreign  collectors  it  may  be 
well  to  state  that  this  is  the  case,  and  that 
the  attention  of  the  Board  of  Inland  Revenue 
has  been  called  to  the  enterprise. 


268 


NEW  ISSUES. 


Leeward  Islands.  — From  various 
sources  we  have  received  news  that  the 
Diamond  Jubilee  was  the  cause  of  a  com- 
memorative set  of  stamps,  the  current  set 
being  surcharged  with  a  circular  garter, 
bearing  in  the  inner  circle  the  monogram 
"v.  R.  I,"  and  in  the  outer  "sexagenary, 
1897."  The  following  account  of  the  issue 
of  these  stamps  is  given  by  a  correspondent 
writing  to  the  Philatelic  Monthly  and  World: 

"These  stamps  were  supposed  to  have 
been  in  issue  for  one  week  from  the  22nd 
of  July;  but  the  issue  was  exhausted  in 
sixty-five  minutes,  the  rush  for  them  being 
very  great.  The  following  are  the  amounts 
sold  in  St.  Kitts  (Antigua,  Dominica,  and 
Montserrat  received  the  same  quantities, 
and  the  Virgin  Islands  a  very  small  lot,  the 
number  of  which  I  have  not  yet  heard. 
Nevis  got  none) :  Thirty  sheets  of  120  each 
of  |d.,  id.,  2Jd.  ;  ten  sheets  of  4d.  ;  three 
sheets  each  of  6d.  and  7d.  ;  i^  sheets  of  i 
shilling,  and  eighty  stamps  of  5  shillings ;  no 
envelopes,  wrappers,  nor  cards.  The  total 
value  of  the  above  is  ^128  los." 

We  annex  herewith  the  order  sanctioning 
the  above  issue. 

"Administrator's  Office, 
"  Dominica, /«/j/ 20,  1897. 

'■It  is  hereby  notified  for  general  information 
that  it  is  proposed  to  issue  a  certain  number  of 
Leeward  Island  postage  stamps  in  commemoration 
of  Her  Majesty's  Diamond  Jubilee. 

"The  stamps  will  be  overprinted  with  a  circle 
bearing  the  word  'Sexagenary,'  and  the  figures 
'  1897,'  and  in  the  centre  of  the  circle  the  letters 
'V.  R.  I.' 

"The  stamps  will  be  for  sale  at  the  several 
Post  Offices  throughout  the  Leeward  Islands  from 
Thursday  the  22nd  instant,  and  the  sales  will 
continue  for  one  week  from  that  date. 

"Leslie  Jarvis, 
"  Clerk  Executive  Coiincil." 

Messrs.  Whitfield  King  &  Co.  inform  us 
that  the  numbers  of  stamps  which  received 
the  Jubilee  surcharge  are  as  follows :— ^d., 
15,600  ;  id.,  15,600;  2|d.,  15,000  ;  4d.,  6,000  ; 
6d.,  3,480;  7d.,  3,480;   IS.,  1,800;  5s.,  900. 

Malta. — There  seems  to  be  going  the 
round  a  report  as  to  the  finding  of  a  sheet 
of  4d.  stamps,  imperforate j  this,  we  would 
point  out,  was  known  as  far  back  as  1894,  as 
will  be  seen  by  a  reference  to  our  volume  of 
that  date,  page  177. 

Niger  Coast.— Messrs.  Whitfield  King& 


Co.  send  us  two  more  values  of  the  current 
set  on  the  watermarked  paper. 

Adhesives.    id.,  yellow-green;  wmk.  Cr.  CA. 
2d.,  lake  ,, 

Rhodesia.— The  letter  following,  from 
Captain  Norris-Newman,  will  certainly  afford 
interesting  reading,  and  we  insert  it  with 
the  view  that  collectors  may  judge  for 
themselves  how  far  they  are  called  upon  to 
support  Bulawayo  Committees  and  specu- 
lators by  contributions  out  of  their  own 
pockets.  An  issue  such  as  this  is  beyond 
the  pale  of  Philately,  and  should  be  rejected 
by  every  collector  who  has  a  grain  of  respect 
for  postage  stamp  collecting. 

"Newmansford,  Bulawayo, 
"  Rhodesia,  July  zjth,  1897. 

"  To  the  Editor  of  the  '  London  Philatelist.^ 

"Sir, — The  Administrator  here  having  sanc- 
tioned the  issue  of  a  special  stamp  commemorating 
the  forthcoming  opening  of  the  railway  from 
Cape  Town  to  Bulawayo,  a  sub-committee  of 
the  Railway  Festivities  Committee  was  formed, 
consisting  of  Messrs.  E.  Ross-Townsend  (Civil 
Commissioner),  LI.  Powys- Jones  (Resident 
Magistrate),  and  myself,  to  arrange  the  whole 
matter ;  and  I  have  drawn  out  a  design  which 
has  been  submitted  by  our  sub-committee,  and 
accepted  by  His  Honour  the  Administrator,  and 
which  will  be  sent  home  by  this  same  mail  for 
execution  by  the  firm  of  Bradbury,  Wilkinson 
&  Co.,  the  well-known  engravers  of  the  first 
issue  of  stamps  for  this  territory. 

"I  am  therefore  desired  by  the  sub-committee 
to  write  to  you,  and  the  other  editors  of  the 
leading  Philatelic  journals,  and  acquaint  you 
with  the  details  of  the  issue  for  publication  in 
your  columns,   if  you  think  proper,  as  follows  : 

"There  will  be  two  values — a  4d.  for  South 
frican  use ;  and  a  6d.,  being  amount  of  postage 
to  England. 

"There  will  be  50,000  of  the  6d.  printed,  and 
25,000  of  the  4d.,  in  1000  and  500  sheets 
respectively  of  50  each — 5  rows  of  10. 

"  The  design  can  be  best  described  as  con- 
taining a  map  of  Africa  in  the  centre,  in  an 
octagon  frame,  which  will  be  printed  in  black  in 
both  values,  whilst  in  each  corner  will  appear  tlie 
Arms  of  Great  Britain  and  the  Arms  of  the 
British  South  Africa  Company  alternately.  On 
the  top  is  a  railway  engine  ;  on  the  bottom,  rose, 
shamrock,  and  thistle  ;  whilst  in  labels  at  the 
sides  will  be  "Rhodesia"  on  the  left,  and 
"4  Nov.,  1897"  on  the  right;  with  "  Postage," 
"Fourpence"  or  "Sixpence,"  as  the  case  may 
be,  at  the  bottom  in  two  lines ;  and  at  each 
corner  (placed  anglewise  above  the  Arms)  will  be 
a  small  shield  bearing  the  figure  of  value — the 
whole  of  this  surrounded  and  worked  in  with 
scrolls.     All  to  be  dark  blue  in  the  6d.   value, 


NEW  ISSUES. 


269 


and  orange  in  that  of  the  4d.  The  size  will  be 
the  same  as  the  £1  of  the  first  issue,  and  the 
paper,  perforation,  and  gum  the  same  ;  no  water- 
mark. 

"By  special  proclamation  in  the  Government 
Gazette,  the  stamps  will  only  be  for  sale  at  the 
Post  Office,  Bulawayo,  or  at  the  Distributor  of 
Stamps'  Office  here,  on  the  3rd  and  4th  November 
next,  and  will  only  be  available  for  postage  during 
the  festivities  ;  and  no  person  will  be  allowed  to 
purchase  more  than  10  sheets  of  each  value. 

"After  the  festivities  the  plates  and  all  re- 
mainders will  be  destroyed  by  Government 
officials  in  our  presence. 

"The  proceeds,  after  deducting  the  expenses, 
will  be  divided  between  the  Post  Office  Depart- 
ment and  the  Festivities  Committee,  in  a  fair 
ratio. 

"  Dealers  and  Philatelists  will  have  to  ask  their 
correspondents  here  to  get  them  the  quantity  they 
desire  up  to  ten  sheets  of  each  (as  none  will  be 
issued  in  London  or  Salisbury)  on  the  day  of 
issue. 

"There  will  not  be  time  to  get  out  proofs 
here,  so  as  to  send  you  each  one  a  copy  for 
reproduction,  or  otherwise  the  sub-committee 
would  have  been  glad  to  do  so. 

' '  I  am,  yours  very  truly, 
"  Charles  L.  Norris-Newman, 

"Captain." 

Sierra  Leone.  —  There  appear  to  be 
three  more  values  to  add  to  the  current 
set : — 

Adhesives.    ^d.,  lilac  and  green. 
4d.      „ 


6d. 


carmine, 
lilac. 


South  Australia. — Writing  on  the  loth 
August,  Mr.  George  Blockey  informs  us  that 
the  die  of  the  id,,  green,  perf.  13,  which  was 
getting  very  much  worn,  has  been  recut. 

In  a  block  of  four  of  this  stamp,  purchased 
by  our  correspondent,  the  middle  horizontal 
row  of  perforations  was  missing,  which  variety 
no  doubt  extended  through  the  entire  sheet ; 
but  as  far  as  could  be  ascertained  only  one 
sheet  escaped  the  perforating  machine,  and 
that  in  one  row  only. 

Tasmania. — In  addition  to  the^i  stamp 
chronicled  last  month,  the  5s.  value  has 
been  issued  in  the  same  type.  This  latter 
value  comes  rather  late,  more  especially  as 
for  twelve  months  past  the  old  type  adhesive 
of  the  same  value  has  been  quoted  as 
obsolete,  and  priced  accordingly. 

Adhesh'e.     5s.,  lilac  and  red  ;  perf.  14. 

Victoria.  —  Following  upon  the  re- 
grettable action  of  the  New  South  Wales 
Government  in  issuing  the  hospital  stamps 


alluded  to  last  month,  there  comes  the  news 
that  the  same  course  is  about  to  be,  or  has 
been,  followed  by  the  Government  of  Victoria. 
The  following  is  a  cutting  from  the  Melbourne 
Australasian  of  July  loth  : 

"bait  for  philatelists. 
"The  Cabinet  has  decided  to  try  the 
experiment  of  making  a  special  issue  of 
stamps  to  tempt  the  speculative  instincts 
of  Philatelists,  with  a  view  of  devoting  the 
proceeds  to  charity.  The  issue  is  to  com- 
prise 40,000  id.  stamps,  to  be  sold  at  is. 
each,  and  10,000  2|d.  stamps,  to  be  disposed 
of  at  2S.  6d.  Of  the  receipts  the  Postal 
Department  will  only  retain  the  face  value 
of  the  stamps,  and  the  balance  of  the  money 
raised  is  to  be  allotted  to  some  charitable 
object  to  be  decided  upon  by  the  Governor 
in  Council." 

We   can   only  re-echo   our  comments  of  . 
last    month,   and    sincerely   hope    that    all 
collectors    will    let    these    stamps    severely 
alone. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  we  are  indebted 
to  Mr.  D.  S.  Abraham,  Hon.  Sec.  of  the 
Victoria  Philatelic  Society,  for  the  following 
comments  : 

"  The  Acting  Postmaster  -  General  of 
Victoria  has  decided  to  issue  20,000  id. 
stamps  to  be  sold  at  is.  each,  and  10,000 
2|d.  stamps  to  be  sold  at  2s.  6d.  each.  The 
stamps  are  to  do  postal  service,  and  will 
thus  have  a  Philatelic  value,  and  the  balance 
of  the  proceeds  arising  from  the  issue  is  to 
be  devoted  to  a  charitable  object  to  be 
approved  by  the  Governor  in  Council,  the 
precise  application  of  the  proceeds  not 
having  yet  been  decided,  although  the 
request  was  made  by  representatives  of 
two  charitable  institutions,  and  they  desired 
that  the  proceeds  should  be  divided  between 
them,  or  the  whole  given  to  one.  It  is 
feared,  however,  if  one  institution  derived 
the  benefit,  every  other  institution  would  be 
asking  for  special  issues  ;  then  Philatelists 
would  require  to  collect  hospital  stamps,  at 
the  same  time  assisting  charity,  but  it  is 
extremely  unlikely  that  the  Government  will 
ever  entertain  such  a  proposal.  If  such 
were  the  case,  the  Philatelic  Society  of 
Victoria  would  enter  its  strong  protest, 
which  they  have  not  done  in  this  case, 
owing  to  its  being  connected  with  charity. 
These  stamps  will  vary  from  the  English 
hospital  stamps,  which  bear  no  postal  value ; 
but    the    issue    in    New    South    Wales    is 


270 


NEW  ISSUES. 


identical  with  the  above.  Designs  are  now 
being  made  by  the  Government  printer,  and 
further  information  will  be  given  in  due 
course." 

EUROPE. 

Sweden. — The  issue  of  the  30  ore  in  a 
new  colour  is  announced. 

Adhesive.     30  ore,  j'ellow. 


AMERICA. 

Brazil. — Two  more  values  of  the  current 
set  have  been  redrawn,  as  described  on 
page  99  ;  these  are  : 

Adhesives.     100  reis,  rose  and  bl.-ick. 

1000    „    green  and  mauve. 

This  is  another  country  which  is  shortly 
to  make  an  endeavour  to  fleece  stamp- 
collectors  by  a  new  issue,  the  intent  of 
which  is  more  than  ever  a  flagrant  example 
of  the  money -making  propensities  of  hard-up 
Governments,  under  the  thin  veil  of  a  com- 
memorative issue.  The  editor  of  the 
Philatelic  Journal  of  Brazil  has  seen  fit 
to  pen  an  article  hereon,  which,  though 
perhaps  laudable  in  its  patriotic  effusions, 
condemns  itself  as  far  as  any  claim  upon 
Philately  is  concerned,  as  instanced  by  the 
following  quotations  therefrom  :  "  Worthy, 
therefore,  of  all  praise  and  support  is  the 
idea  of  celebrating  the  anniversary  of  the 
discovery  of  Brazil  by  means  of  a  national 
exposition,  and  other  festivities.  But  where, 
in  such  hard  times  as  these  "  (we  sympathize 
with  the  Republic  in  its  poverty ! — Ed.),  "are 
we  to  procure  the  money  for  this  purpose  ? " 
"The  proposition  for  an  issue  of  com- 
memorative stamps  furnishes  a  satisfactory 
answer  to  the  above  question." 

Such  argument  as  the  above  is  but  adequate 
description  of  the  real  cause  of  other  com- 
memoration sets  besides  that  projected  for 
Brazil,  and  by  this  time  it  is  almost  un- 
necessary to  express  the  hope  that,  in 
common  with  other  issues  which  have  been 
boycotted  by  Philatelists,  this  latest  will 
receive  similar  treatment. 

Colombian  Republic— The  20  c.  ad- 
hesive is  reported  in  new  colours,  the  brown 
on  blue  having  given  place  to  pale  brown  on 
pale  green. 

Adhesive.    20  c,  pale  brown  on  pale  green, 

Dominican  Republic— The  American 
Journal  of  Philately  announces  that  a  similar 


fate  has  befallen  the  2  c.  adhesive  of  this 
Republic,  vermilion  having  replaced  rose. 

Adhesive.     2  c,  vermilion. 

Ecuador. — The  surcharging  business  is 
giving  place  to  a  new  issue,  with  no  date, 
which  we  sincerely  trust  is  an  evidence  of 
permanence.  The  design  includes  the  con- 
ventional "Arms"  in  an  oval,  "CORREOS 
del  ECUADOR "  at  top,  value  in  figures  and 
words  at  base,  "u.P.U."  in  almost  micro- 
scopic letters  at  the  sides. 

At  present  the  following  are  out : 

Adhesives.     i  centavo,  green. 

2  centavos,  vermilion. 
5         „  lake. 

10         ,,  brown. 

United  States. —  We  include  in  our 
chronicle  two  short  paragraphs  cut  from 
the  Weekly  Stamp  News  relating  to  some 
varieties  of  the  2  c.  adhesive  which  have 
been  found. 

"  The  latest  thing  in  Bureau  issues  is  the 
current  2  c.  stamp  on  double  paper,  similar 
to  that  experimented  with  at  one  time  by  the 
Continental  Bank  Note  Co.  Both  sections 
are  very  thin,  of  course,  as  the  thickness  of 
both  together  does  not  exceed  that  of  the 
ordinary  watermarked  paper  with  which  we 
are  familiar.  The  gummed  section,  however, 
is  quite  tough  and  strongly  "wire  wove," 
while  the  upper  side  is  soft  and  delicate. 
The  watermark  is  in  the  soft  portion  next 
to  the  impression,  which  would  account 
for  its  indistinctness  when  looked  for,  the 
outline  being  obscured  by  the  application 
of  the  unwatermarked  sheet  with  the  gum. 
Specimens  have  been  shown  us  by  Mr. 
C.  H.  Mekeel  and  others.  We  are  unable 
to  say  how  long  it  has  been  in  use,  or 
whether  it  has  been  permanently  adopted." 

"  Last  week  we  described  the  current  2  c. 
stamp  on  double  paper,  which  was  evidently 
an  experiment  similar  to  those  tried  by  the 
Continental  Bank  Note  Co.  in  1873-5. 
Since  then  we  have  seen  another  2  c.  stamp 
of  the  same  type  on  what  appears  to  be  an 
experimental  blue  safety  paper.  The  colour 
of  the  stamp  is  tinted  by  the  paper,  and 
appears  to  be  a  dark  crimson.  The  paper 
is  of  the  ordinary  thickness,  and  is  highly 
surfaced,  with  an  irregular  network  of  water- 
lines  on  its  back.  There  is  no  watermark. 
The  only  specimen  we  have  seen  was  sent 
us  by  Mr.  J.  T.  Kaemmerlen,  and  was 
received  by  him  on  a  letter  from  Cleveland, 
Ohio." 


NEW  ISSUES. 


271 


In  addition  to  the  above  varieties,  the 
A.  J.  of  Ph.  describes  a  variety  of  the  8  c. 
stamp,  Plate  249,  the  difference  from  the 
ordinary  being  in  the  colour,  which,  instead 
of  the  puce  shade,  is  brown-violet.  We  also 
received  last  month,  from  a  Transatlantic 
correspondent,  a  copy  of  the  50  c.  in  a 
decided  shade  of  the  usual  orange  colour, 
the  actual  colour  being  more  vermilion  than 
orange. 

Uruguay.— The  A.J.  of  Ph.  gives  us  the 
following  decree,  which  was  responsible  for 
the  change  in  the  colours  of  the  low  values 
announced  last  month.  But  the  colour  of 
the  I  c.  is  anything  but  blue.  We  have  seen 
this  described  as  deep  blue,  slate-blue,  and 
grey-lilac ! 

"By  order  of  the  Directory,  on  the  21st  inst. 
a  new  emission  of  postage  stamps  will  be  put  into 
circulation — say,  of  I  cent.,  same  design  as  Sth 
October,  1895,  printed  in  blue  ink  ;  of  2  cents., 
same  as  5th  December,  1895,  but  violet;  of  5 
cents.,  same  as  5th  October,  1895,  but  green. 

"Ninety  days  from  that  date  is  given  to  retire 
those  of  the  same  value  now  in  use,  and  these 
can  be  exchanged  for  new  ones  during  the  last 
thirty  days.  After  that  time  the  old  stamps  will 
be  of  no  value  for  franking. 

"Montevideo,  i(^th  June,  1897." 

OTHER    COUNTRIES. 

Eritrea. — The  new  5  c.  stamp  of  Italy 
has  been  overprinted  "  Colonia  Eritrea." 

Adhesive.     5  c,  green  ;  black  surcharge. 

Fernando  Poo. — The  J  c.  de  peso  has 
received  the  same  disfigurement  as  that 
described  on  page  225.  Various  sources 
herald  the  10  c.  printed  in  a  new  colour— 
yellow-brown. 

Adhesives.     s  c.  on  J  c.  de  peso,  grey ;  black  surcharge. 
10  c,  yellow-brown. 

Liberia. — Le  Timbrc-Poste  illustrates  a 
new  3  cents  stamp,  designed  for  interior 
use.  In  the  centre  is  a  large  figure  "3" 
with  "  CENTS "  underneath,  "  republic 
LIBERIA "  on  an  arched  band  above, 
"inland    postage"    on    a    similar    band 


beneath,  all  of  which  is  enclosed  in  a  key- 
pattern  frame. 

Adhesive.     3  cents,  red  and  green. 

Zanzibar  {French  Post  Office). — Not  to 
be  outdone  by  the  successful  surcharging 
manoeuvres  in  the  British  Post  Office,  the 
French  Post  Office  has  produced,  and  is 
probably  still  producing,  something  a  little 
unique  to  cope  with  the  demand  for  the 
supply  of  "  provisionals."  Messrs.  Whitfield 
King  &  Co.  write,  "  The  announcement  that 
a  new  issue  was  to  appear  was  made  too 
prematurely,  with  the  result  that  there  was  a 
rush  for  the  old  ones"  (the  Island  must  con- 
tain quite  a  Philatelic  community!),  "some 
values  of  which  were  exhausted  before  the 
new  stamps  arrived  from  Paris." 

The  stamps  we  have  received  from  our 
correspondents  are  the  ordinary  surcharged 
French  stamps  still  further  surcharged  with 
a  fresh  value,  as  per  list  below,  and  the  word 
"  ZANZIBAR"  in  vertical  capitals.  In  addition 
to  these  monstrosities,  so  great  was  the 
demand  for  stamps,  that  recourse  was  had 
to  the  gummed  margins  of  the  sheets,  and 
we  have  seen  a  2\  annas,  or  25  c.,  stamp 
type-set  on  this  paper.  The  following  are 
the  stamps  which  our  correspondents  have 
sent  us  : 

Adhesives. 
2\  as.,  or  25  c,  type-set  on  gummed  edge  of  25  c. 
2J  as.,  or  25  c,  in  black,  on  \  anna  (in  red),  on  5  c,  green. 
5  as.,  or  soc,  in  black,  on  3  annas  (in  black),  on  30  c.,  brown. 

From  the  same  source  we  have  received 
a  list  of  the  new  issue,  which  consists  of  the 
current  French  stamps  surcharged  with  the 
value,  and  "Zanzibar"  in  three  lines,  as 
follows  : 

Adhesives. 
I  anna,  red  surcharge,  on  5  c,  green. 

1  ,,      blue       ,,  ,,   10  c.,h\2ii:.\(.  on  rose-lilac. 
I5  annas,  red  surcharge,  on  15  c,  blue. 

2  ,,       black      ,,  ,,  20  c.jhricV.  on  green. 

z\  ,,  blue  ,,  ,,  25  c,  black  on /a/t' rd?^^. 

3  ,1  black  ,,  ,,  30  c,  brown. 

4  ,,         ,,  ,,  ,,  40  c  ,  vermilion  on  straw. 

5  ,,  blue  ,,  ,,  ^oc,  caimme  on />ale  rose. 
7i  ,,          i<  ,1  II  7SC.,\>\SicV.  on  orange. 

10      ,,       red  ,,  ,,   I  franc,  pale  sage-green. 

50      ,,       black      ,,  ,,  5  francs,  reddish  lilac  on /rtiV 

lilac 


<^.:-:-K»»x-:-K«*x-x-K-:-"g*- 


[         272         ] 


Ipljilaklic  Somtics'  Platings. 

♦  ■  

IVe  regret  thai,  owing  to  an  abnormal  demand  upon  our  space  during  the  Exhibition,  some  of  these 
reports  should  have  been  so  long  delayed.  We  hope,  however,  during  the  ensuing  season  that  all 
reports  up  to  date  of  issue  %vill  be  concluded.  Secretaries  would  oblige  by  condensing  their  minutes 
as  much  as  possible,  so  that  the  portion  published  should  principally  contain  matters  of  public 
interest.  All  reports  should  be  addressed  to  Mr.  H.  M.  Gooch,  Effingham  House,  Arundel 
Street,  London,  W.C. — Ed. 


BIRMINGHAM   PHILATELIC  SOCIETY. 


Hon. 


President— V^ .  T.  Wilson,  Esq. 
Sec.  and  Treas. — Me.  G.  Johnson,  B.A., 

208,  Birchfield  Road,  Bimiinsham. 


May  20th.— Messrs.  W.  T.  Willett  (Oxon.;, 
J.  Siewert  (Russia),  H.  Hawkins  (Surrey), 
were  unanimously  elected  members. 

Votes  of  thanks  were  given  to  Messrs. 
Schreuders  and  Co.  (for  Postmarks  of 
Holland;,  H.  C.  Beardsley  (Address  Book), 


E.   F.   Wartell    (a  large    number  of    U.S. 
journals). 

Mr.  Lundblad  then  gave  an  interesting 
paper  on  the  Stamps  of  Austria,  carefully 
explaining  the  various  settings,  types,  papers, 
and  various  varieties. 


BRIGHTON  AND  SUSSEX  PHILATELIC  SOCIETY. 


PresideiU—M.  P.  Castle. 
Hon.  Secretary  and  Treastcrer — Baron  A.  de  Worms. 
Assistant  Hon.  Secretary — W.  T.  Willett,  West  House,  Brighton. 


The  thirteenth  meeting  was  held  on  Tues- 
day, April  6th.  Six  members  attended. 
Mr.  J.  W.  Gillespie  in  the  chair.  Mr.  H. 
Stafford  Smith  exhibited  a  quantity  of  un- 
chronicled  and  curious  varieties,  of  which 
he  gave  a  most  interesting  description. 
Among  them  may  be  mentioned  a  strip  of 
three  Siam  2  atts  on  64  atts,  with  the  sur- 
charge printed  on  the  back  ;  Patiala,  with 
the  word  "service"  inverted;  a  tete-beche 
pair  100  reis  Brazil,  head  of  Liberty  ;  a  pair 
of  5  c.  red  Santander,  one  stamp  in  its 
normal  position,  but  the  other  sideiuays ;  a 
large  block  of  South  Australia  2|d.,  brown 
and  green,  showing  the  different  perfora- 
tions ;  and  many  other  oddities  from  all 
parts  of  the  world.  A  cordial  vote  of  thanks 
to  Mr.  Stafford  Smith  concluded  a  very 
pleasant  evening. 


The  fourteenth  meeting  was  held  on  Tues- 
day, May  4th.  Seven  members  were  present. 
The  Vice-President  in  the  chair.  Mr.  E.  J. 
W.  Sang  conducted  the  second  auction  of 
the  season.  Owing  to  the  fact  that  some  of 
the  principal  members  of  the  Society  were 
away,  this   auction   was    not   quite   such   a 


success  as  the  previous  one.  Nevertheless, 
the  competition  was  keen  for  the  better  class 
stamps,  and  good  prices  were  realized  for 
several  lots,  but  bargains  were  to  be  picked 
up  in  several  cases.  About  eighty  lots  were 
put  up,  and  all  disposed  of.  A  sub-com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  arrange  for  the 
Annual  Dinner  of  the  Society. 


The  fifteenth,  and  last  —  being  also  the 
Annual  General  Meeting  of  the  Society — 
was  held  on  Tuesday,  June  ist.  Five 
members  attended,  the  President  occupying 
the  chair.  The  balance-sheet  was  sub- 
mitted, also  the  Exchange  Superintendent's 
report,  and  were  adopted.  The  officers  and 
committee  for  the  ensuing  year  were  elected 
as  follows  : — 

President — >L  P.  Castle. 

Vice-President—].  H.  Redman. 

Hon.  Secretary  and  Treasurer — 

Baron  Anthony  de  Worms. 

Assistant  Hon.  Secretary — Walter  T.  Willett. 

Librarian— Otto  Pfenninger. 

Committee — 

J.  W.  Gillespie.    H.  Stafford  Smith. 

R.  J.  Thrupp. 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


273 


MANCHESTER  PHILATELIC  SOCIETY. 

■* 

President—'^.  Dorning  Beckton. 
Hon.  Sec. — A.  H.  Harrison. 


The  annual  meeting  was  held  on  Friday, 
2 1  St  May,  at  the  Grand  Hotel.  The  Presi- 
dent in  the  chair,  supported  by  eighteen 
members. 

After  the  minutes  of  the  last  general 
meeting  had  been  read  and  confirmed,  the 
Hon.  Sec.  presented  his  report  of  the 
session,  which  briefly  was  in  the  following 
terms  : 

"  During  the  past  session,  the  sixth  of  the 
Society's  existence,  fifteen  ordinary  and  four- 
teen list  meetings  have  been  held,  the  average 
attendance  being  about  fifteen  at  each  of 
the  general  meetings. 

"The  papers  which  have  been  read  have 
contained  matter  of  a  most  useful  nature 
for  the  future  guidance  and  information  of 
the  members  ;  altogether  six  papers  have 
been  completed.  Some  of  these  are  being 
or  will  be  reproduced  in  certain  of  the  lead- 
ing Philatelic  publications.  The  member- 
ship, I  am  pleased  to  report,  is  gradually 
increasing  ;  six  ordinary  and  seven  corre- 
sponding members  have  been  elected,  while 
only  two  resignations  have  been   received. 

"  For  the  fourth  year  in  succession  the 
session  was  inaugurated  with  a  lantern 
exhibition ;  the  interest  these  exhibitions 
stimulate  was  clearly  evidenced  by  the 
number  of  our  visitors,  nine  being  present. 

"  Certain  of  the  Philatelic  publications 
have  drawn  attention  to  our  Society,  and 
have  made  flattering  comments  upon  the 
work  being  done.  I  am  sure  you  will  all 
agree  with  me  that  the  position  of  the 
Society  must  be  maintained.  I  appeal  to 
the  general  body  of  our  members  for  papers 
for  next  session.  I  would  put  it  to  you  that 
it  could  not  fail  to  be  to  the  interest  and 
advantage  of  the  Society  to  have  the  benefit 
of  fresh  ideas  and  new  lines  of  thought 
brought  to  bear  by  efforts  of  members  who 
have  not  contributed  papers  this  past  session ; 
and  again,  it  is  not  fair  to  expect  that  one 
or  two  of  the  leading  members  will  stand 
alone  and  do  all  the  work  in  this  direction, 
requiring  as  it  does  great  study  and  research. 

"  The  best  thanks  of  the  Society  are  due 
to  Mr.  J.  H.  Abbott,  Mr.  B.  J.  Beckton,  and 
Mr,  Gibson,  for  their  services  to  the  Society 


during  this  last  session,  and  also  to  Messrs. 
Stanley  Gibbons,  Ltd.,  H.  L'Estrange  Ewen, 
Bright  and  Son,  Wm.  Brown,  Buhl  and  Co., 
for  gifts  to  the  Library;  to  the  Manchester 
City  News,  and  to  those  Philatelic  publica- 
tions which  have  inserted  reports  of  our 
meetings." 

Touching  upon  other  matters  of  interest, 
the  Honorary  Secretary,  inter  alia,  especially 
mentioned  Mr.  Duerst's  appointment  to  the 
Editorship  of  the  Philatelic  Journal  of  Great 
Britain;  the  inauguration  of  auction  sales 
of  stamps  in  Manchester  by  Messrs.  Cheveley 
and  Co.  ;  the  coming  Philatelic  Exhibition 
in  London. 

The  report  as  read  was  passed  unani- 
mously. 

The  Honorary  Treasurer's  report  proved 
of  a  satisfactory  nature. 

The  remainder  of  the  business  on  the 
notice  was  then  proceeded  with. 

The    President    declared    the    following 
gentlemen  duly  elected  officers  for  the  next 
session  (there  being  no  opposition)  : 
President — W.  Dorning  Beckton. 
Vice-Presidents — F.  Barratt,  E.  Petri. 

Hon.  Treasurer — G.  B.  Duerst. 

Hon.  Secretary— KKxnxiV:.  H.  Harrison. 

Assistant  Hon.  Secretary — C.  H.  COOTE. 

Hon.  Librarian — J.  C.  North, 

Hon.  Secretary  ExcJiange  Packet— Q.  B.  Duerst. 

Committee — 
W.  Grunewald,  W.  W.  Munn,  J,  H.  Abbott. 
Committee  of  Exchange  Packet — 
C.  H.  CooTE,  G.  F.  H.  Gibson. 
The  meeting  was  then  declared  at  an  end. 
Mr.  Duerst  called  attention  to  the  Friedl 
Collection  being  upon  the  market,  and  in  a 
short  speech  pointed  out  the  great  advantage 
it  would  be  to  have  such  a  unique  collection 
in  England  for  reference. 

List  of  Members. 

Judge  Philbrick.  J.  E.  Heginbottom. 

T.  Ridpath.  H.  J.  Hill  (f). 

M.  P.  Castle.  W.  Hanmer. 

J,  H,  Abbott.  L  R.  Hesketh. 

F.  Barratt.  A.  H.  Harrison. 

Dr.  Bradley.  Guybon  Hutson,  jun.  [c). 

A.  Buxton.  M.  W.  Jones. 

F.  J.  Beazley.  C.  Lichfield. 

E.  W.  Bramwell  f).        F.  W.  Lake. 


274 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


W.  D.  Beckton. 

G.  Blockey  {c). 

W.  Brown  (c). 

C.  H.  Coote. 

E.   P.  Collette. 

T.  Cadle  (r). 

J.  J.  Darlow. 

G.  B.  Duerst. 

E.  A.  Ehlinger. 

J.  W.  Etherington  [c). 


W.  W.  Munn. 
J.  C.  North. 

D.  Ostara. 
T.  Oxley. 
R.  Pellew. 

E.  Petri. 

P.  L.  Pemberton. 
T.  Roberts. 

F.  A.  Roberts. 
H.  Ranck. 


A.  S.  Fletcher. 
E.  Fildes. 
J.  Flohr. 
\V.  E.  Farrer. 
W.  Grunewald. 
O.  Gillett. 
D.  Garson  (c). 
G.  F.  H.  Gibson. 
R.  F.  V.  Harrisson. 


J.  W.  Simpson. 

W.  E.  Terry. 

W.  C.  Taylor  (f). 

M.  Tchiliriguirian  (c). 

S.  Wrigley. 

A.  Wallace. 

N.  Wanstall. 

R.  H.  W.  Whapham. 


PLYMOUTH    PHILATELIC    SOCIETY. 


President — Captain  G.  H.  W.  Stockdale,  R.E. 
Treasurer  and  Hon.  Secretary — W,  J.  W.  Miller. 


Although  somewhat  late  in  the  season, 
the  Plymouth  Philatelic  Society  wound  up 
their  session  on  Saturday,  June  12th,  with  a 
fine  exhibition  of  stamps,  this  being  the 
second  held  this  year.  A  novel  feature  was 
introduced  on  this  occasion  in  the  shape 
of  three  prizes — presented  by  the  President, 
Major  G.  H.  W.  Stockdale,  R.E. ;  the  Vice- 
President,  Mr.  R.  Tyeth  Stevens  ;  and  Mr. 
H.  W.  Mayne,  who  is  one  of  the  original 
founders  of  the  Society— for  collections  of 
any  country  exhibited  by  members,  points 
being  awarded  for  :  {a)  The  completeness  of 
the  collection,  {b)  the  condition  of  the 
stamps,  {c)  the  Philatelic  knowledge  dis- 
played, and  {(f)  the  neatness  and  skill 
shown  in  the  mounting  and  arrangement  of 
the  stamps.  The  judges  consisted  of  the 
three  prize  donors  before  mentioned  and 
Colonel  A.  Ely,  A.S.C.,and  they  commenced 
their  work  directly  after  the  opening  of  the 
exhibition,  the  result  being  that  the  Hon. 
Secretary  (Mr.  W.  J.  W.  Miller)  obtained  the 
first  place  with  92I  per  cent,  of  the  points 
for  his  very  fine  and  skilfully-arranged  col- 
lection of  the  stamps  of  Greece  ;  the  Rev. 
E.  A.  Donaldson  second  with  67^  points  for 
a  collection  of  Spanish  stamps  that  com- 
prised most  of  the  rarities  of  the  earlier 
issues ;  and  the  Rev.  E.  R.  Hudson  third 
place  with  64I  points  for  his  fine  show  of  the 
stamps  of  Newfoundland,  which  comprised, 


among  others,  good  copies  of  the  early  6|d. 
and  IS.  stamps.  The  other  exhibitors  were 
the  President,  Major  Stockdale,  who  showed 
a  magnificent  array  of  stamps  of  the  follow- 
ing countries :  Spain,  complete,  with  the 
exception  of  the  1S51,  2  reales  ;  France, 
almost  all  unused  ;  Thurn  and  Taxis,  un- 
used ;  Oldenburg,  mostly  unused  ;  and  other 
European  countries  ;  and  a  magnificent 
collection  of  the  stamps  of  Ceylon,  com- 
plete, with  the  exception  of  one  or  two 
varieties  of  perforation,  and  inclusive  of 
unused  copies  of  the  imperforate  gd.,  lod., 
and  -id.,  on  bluish  paper.  The  Vice-Presi- 
dent's display  consisted  of  the  stamps  of  St. 
Vincent.  In  addition  to  the  prize-winning 
collection,  the  Rev.  E.  A.  Donaldson  had  a 
fine  display  of  the  Swiss  cantonal  stamps, 
including  single  and  double  copies  of  the 
rare  Geneva.  The  Rev.  E.  R.  Hudson  also 
displayed  collections  of  the  stamps  of  New 
Brunswick  and  Nova  Scotia,  the  is.  value 
of  both  countries  being  shown.  The  past 
session  has  been  a  most  successful  one, 
many  interesting  and  instructive  papers 
having  been  given  upon  Philatelic  subjects, 
and  the  membership  having  increased  over 
fifty  per  cent.  The  Hon.  Secretary's  address 
is  5,  Athenaeum  Terrace,  Plymouth,  from 
whom  all  particulars  may  be  obtained  by 
collectors  in  the  West  of  England  who 
may  be  desirous  of  joining  the  Society. 


SUBURBAN  STAMP  EXCHANGE. 


Founded  in  1892.  Number  of  members 
on  September  ist,  303.  Average  value  of 
packets,  ;i^  1500-^  1800.  The  ordinary  ex- 
change rules  apply,  but  the  following  may 
be  specially  noted  : 


1.  All  members  see  packets  first  in  turn. 

2.  Cash  settlements  are  monthly. 

3.  Stamps   are  priced   at    members'  dis- 
cretion. 

4.  Four  packets  are  circulated  every  month, 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'   MEETINGS. 


275 


two  of  which  are  composed  exclusively  of 
sheets  valued  at  not  less  than  ^5  gross  each. 

5.  Members  can  see  or  contribute  to  as 
many  packets  as  they  like  by  giving  due 
notice  to  the  Secretary. 

March  accounts  have  been  duly  settled, 
and  the  April  packets  are  expected  back 
from  the  supplementary  rounds  next  week. 
The    sales    from    March    packets   were    as 

follows  : 

£    s.    d. 

March  A  i     .         .         .         .  97  14  4 

„      A2     .         .         .         .  13s  12  7 

„      B  I     .         .         .         .  41  19  II 

„      R  2    .         .         .         .  37  16  4 

Supplementary  rounds  of  A  i 

and  A  2  packets     .         .  50  o  2 


Taking  the  holiday  season  into  con- 
sideration, August  packets  were  quite  equal 
to  expectation,  their  aggregate  value  amount- 
ing to  £1771  14s.  2d.  Old  Europeans  and 
Colonials,  in  good  condition,  were  offered 
at  reasonable  prices,  and  Africans  were  also 
well  represented.  A  new  set  of  rules  (based 
on  Mr.  Oldfield's  draft)  has  been  drawn  up, 
and  submitted  to  every  member  for  signature. 
These  rules  are  intended  for  the  better  pro- 
tection of  members,  and  empower  the 
Secretary  to  take  immediate  action  against 
defaulters.  All  responsible  collectors  (buyers 
or  sellers)  proposing  to  join  the  Club  are 
invited  to  apply  for  copy  of  rules,  etc.,  to  the 
Secretary,  H.A.Slade,  Ingleside,  St.  Albans. 


THE  COLLECTORS'  CLUB,  NEW  YORK. 


Tenth  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Governors, 
held  at  the  Club  House,  351,  Fourth  Avenue, 
May  loth,  1897.  Vice-President  Chas. 
Gregory  in  the  chair.  Present :  Messrs. 
Luff,  Lynde,  Scott,  and  the  Secretary. 

Called  to  order  at  8.15  p.m.  Minutes  of 
the  previous  meeting  read  and  approved. 

The  Chairmen  of  House  and  Amusement 
Committees  then  made  their  reports,  which 
were  received. 

The  Treasurer  made  his  monthly  report, 
showing  $988.04  in  bank,  and  the  report 
was  accepted. 

The  following  applications  for  member- 
ship were  reported  : 

(25)  Henry  S.  Fleek,  Newark,  Ohio. 

Proposed  by  John  N.  Luff. 
Seconded  by  Henry  L.  Caiman. 

(26)  Chas.  E.  Green,  Pittsburg,  Pa. 

Proposed  by  Walter  S.  Scott. 
Seconded  by  Chas.  D.  W.  Drew. 

(27)  F.  M.  Heilihey,  Boston,  Mass. 

Proposed  by  John  N.  Luff. 
Seconded  by  F.  E.  P.  Lynde. 

The  last  two  were  ordered  to  be  posted 
according  to  the  constitution. 

Upon  ballot  Mr.  Henry  S.  Fleek,  whose 
application  had  been  posted  over  thirty 
days,  was  unanimously  elected  a  subscrib- 
ing member. 

The  Treasurer  was  instructed  to  collect 
from  members  elected  after  April  ist  half  a 
year's  dues  only. 

Adjourned  at  9.25  p.m. 

Eleventh    meeting    of    the    Board    of 
Governors,   held    at    351,   Fourth    Avenue, 


June  7th,  1897.  Present:  Messrs.  Caiman, 
Deats,  Luff,  Lynde,  Nast,  Scott,  and  the 
Secretary. 

Mr.  H.  E.  Deats  was  elected  Chairman,  in 
the  absence  of  President  and  Vice-President. 

Called  to  order  at  7.15  p.m. 

ThefoUowing  resolutions  were  unanimously 
adopted  : 

Whereas  the  Governors  of  the  Collectors' 
Club  have  heard  of  the  seizure  of  certain 
U.S.  periodical  stamps  from  the  Walter  S. 
Scott  Stamp  Company,  Lim.,  by  Post  Office 
Department  officials,  on  the  alleged  ground 
that  said  stamps  had  been  "stolen,  em- 
bezzled, and  purloined "  from  the  Govern- 
ment ; 

IV/icreas  it  is  a  well-known  fact  that  large 
quantities  of  said  periodical  stamps  were 
openly  sold  to  dealers  and  collectors  by  the 
Government  for  about  ten  years,  as  it  is 
evidenced  by  circulars  issued  by  the  Post 
Office  Department,  specially  by  a  circular 
dated  March  27th,  1875,  and  by  receipts 
given  by  the  Third  Assistant  Postmaster- 
General  for  inoney  paid  for  said  periodical 
stamps  ;  and 

Whereas  it  is  also  a  well-known  fact  that 
over  seven  hundred,  sets  of  these  periodical 
stamps  were  furnished  by  the  United  States 
Government  to  the  officials  of  the  Universal 
Postal  Union  at  Berne,  Switzerland,  and 
that  most  of  said  sets  have  long  since  passed 
into  the  hands  of  collectors ;  therefore  be  it 
Resolved,  That  the  Governors  of  the 
Collectors'  Club  most  earnestly  protest,  in 
behalf  of  its  members,  against  this  unjust, 
oppressive,  and  unlawful  proceeding. 


276 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


The  question  of  defending  the  suit  of 
"U.S.  V.  The  Walter  S.  Scott  Stamp  Co., 
Lim.,"  was  next  discussed,  and  it  was  the 
sense  of  the  Governors  that  the  Club,  as  the 
leading  organization  of  stamp  collectors  and 
dealers,  should  undertake  it. 

It  was  moved,  seconded,  and  carried,  that 
the  Club  contribute  100  dollars  towards  ex- 
penses of  the  suit ;  and  that  Mr.  John  W. 
Scott  be  appointed  a  committee  of  one,  with 
power  to  associate  others  with  him,  in  the 
management  of  said  defence. 

The  Secretary  was  directed  to  furnish 
copies  of  resolutions  to  the  Government 
officials,  and  to  the  daily  and  Philatelic  press. 

Adjourned  at  8,20  p.m. 


Twelfth  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Governors, 
held  at  351,  Fourth  Avenue,  July  12th,  1897. 
In  the  absence  of  the  President  and  Vice- 


President,  Mr.  John  W.  Scott  was  elected 
Chairman. 

Called  to  order  at  8.20  p.m. 

The  minutes  of  previous  meeting  were 
read  and  approved. 

The  Treasurer's  report  was  received,  show- 
ing a  balance  of  §804.99  i^i  bank. 

The  Chairman  of  House  Committee  made 
his  report,  which  was  received. 

An  informal  discussion  regarding  exten- 
sion of  billiard-room  was  then  held,  and  the 
Treasurer  was  authorized  to  make  inquiries 
of  the  landlord  as  to  the  feasibility  of  said 
extension,  and  its  probable  increase  in  rental 
expense  to  the  Club. 

Upon  ballot  the  following  candidate  was 
elected  a  subscribing  member  of  the  Club : 
Captain  S.  Baker,  and  he  was  thereupon 
duly  declared  elected. 

Adjourned  at  9.20  p.m. 

J.  M.  Andreini,  Secretary. 


THE    PHILATELIC    SOCIETY,    NEW   YORK, 

351,  Fourth  Avenue. 


The  meeting  of  the  Governing  Committee 
of  the  Philatelic  Society  on  Monday,  June 
2 1st,  1897,  was  called  to  order  at  9  p.m. 
Present:  Messrs.  Andreini,  Scott,  Clotz,  and 
Ouigley.  Mr.  Andreini  was  elected  Chair- 
man and  Mr.  Quigley  Secretary  pro  tern. 

The  resolutions  of  the  Collectors'  Club 
concerning  the  seizure  of  the  periodical 
stamps  were  unanimously  adopted. 

Resolved — That  the  Governors  of  the 
Philatelic  Society,  New  York,  most  earnestly 
protest  in  behalf  of  its  members  against  this 
unjust,  oppressive,  and  unlawful  proceeding. 

It  was  moved  by  Mr.  Scott,  and  seconded, 
that   copies   of   this   resolution   be  sent  to 


the  press.  Philatelic  societies,  government 
officials,  and  prominent  collectors.  Carried 
unanimously. 

It  was  moved  by  Mr.  Scott,  and  seconded, 
that  the  Philatelic  Society,  New  York, 
donate  $50  to  defray  expenses  of  the  defence 
of  the  suit  of  U.S.  v.  The  Walter  S.  Scott 
Stamp  Co.,  Ltd.     Carried  unanimously. 

Motion  to  adjourn  seconded  and  carried. 
R.  W.  Ouigley,  Secretary  pro  tern. 

[To  avoid  repetition  the  resolutions  referred 
to  in  the  above  minutes  have  been  omitted, 
as  these  already  appear  under  the  Collectors' 
Club  minutes. — Ed.] 


Communications.—^//  comnmnications  of  Philatelic  matters  and  Publications  for  Review  should 
be  addressed  to  the  Editor  of  The  London  Philatelist,  Kingston  Lodge,  Richmond  Place, 
Brighton. 

Advertisements  should  be  sent  to  Mr.  H.  M.  Gooch  (Advertising  Department),  Effingham  House, 
Arundel  Street,  London,  W.C. 

SuBSCRirTiONS.  —The  London  Philatelist  will  be  sent,  post  free  in  Great  Britain  or  the  countries 
of  the  Postal  Union,  to  any  subscriber,  on  receipt  of  6s.  (Si. 50).  Subscribers'  remittances  should 
be  sent  to  Mr.  H.  1\L  Gooch,  Effingham  House,  Arundel  Street,  Strand,  London,  W.C. 


2/-  BROWN,  GREAT  BRITAIN. 

Dear  Sir,— Can  you  or  any  of  your 
readers  inform  me  of  the  precise  number 
of  the  28.,  red-brown,  English,  which  were 
issued  in  1880.''  Is  this  known  even  ap- 
proximately.''    I  have  heard  it   stated  that 


not    more    than    2000   of    this    stamp    were 
issued  to  the  public.     I  believe  the  number 
to  have  been  considerably  larger. 
I  am,  yours  truly, 

George  F.  A.  Harris, 

Surg.- Major  I. M.S. 
Nagpur,  India,  July  i6tli,  1897. 


THE 


S^to  iWIaWi^t: 


THE     MONTHLY    JOURNAL     OF 

THE    PHILATELIC   SOCIETY,    LONDON. 


Vol.   VI. 


OCTOBER,    1897. 


No.   70. 


— ♦ — 

R.  J.  N.  LEGRAND  bears  a  name  so  conspicuous  in  the 
earlier  records  of  Philately  that  the  announcement  of  the 
sale  of  his  collection  comes  almost  as  a  surprise  to  the 
modern  collector,  to  whom  he  is  practically  unknown. 
The  learned  Doctor  is  better  known  to  the  older  school 
of  collectors,  and  will,  in  the  future  annals  of  Philately, 
take  very  high  rank,  not  only  as  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
the  pursuit,  but  as  one  of  the  very  first  to  dignify  the 
same  by  scientific  and  accurate  investigation.  The  earliest 
papers  written  on  watermarks  include  one  from  Dr. 
"Magnus"'  pen  in  1865,  and  the  system  of  measuring 
the  perforation  within  the  two  centimetres  space,  now 
so  universally  recognized,  was  also  his  invention.  Born  in  the  year  1820, 
Dr.  Legrand  may  well  have  pleaded  good  reason  for  his  comparative  inaction 
in  the  Philatelic  world  of  recent  years,  and  it  is  due  to  this  cause  that  the 
modern  collector  can  hardly  realize  the  full  portent  of  the  dispersal  of  the 
historic  collection,  of  which  he  has  scarce  heard  mention. 

The  collection  has  been  in  course  of  formation  since  1862,  and  it  is 
probable  that  thirty-five  years  is  a  record  for  the  unbroken  holding  of 
stamps  by  any  Philatelist.  Those  of  his  compeers.  Count  Primoli,  Baron 
A.  de  Rothschild,  M.  Donatis,  Judge  Philbrick,  Mr.  Image,  Mr.  Westoby, 
cum  miiltis  aliis,  have  all  long  since  been  dispersed,  and  the  general  collec- 
tions formed  by  their  successors,  such  as  MM.  Caillebotte,  Mr.  T.  K. 
Tapling,  M.  V.  de  Ysasi  (all,  alas!  discontinued  by  death),  Messrs.  Burnett, 
Botteley,  Castle — to  name  only  a  few — have  all  followed  suit.  Among  the 
survivors  of  the  older  collectors,  who  started  and  kept  to  the  lines  of  a 
general  collection  of  an  inclusive  and  scientific  nature,  there  are  but  {&\m 
remaining — M.  von  Ferrary  and  M.  F.  Breitfuss  being  conspicuous  examples 
to  the  contrary. 

It  is  thus  that  "the  old  order  changeth."  Philately,  under  its  modern 
guise  of  insatiability  as  to  variety  of  shade,  unsevered  blocks,  and  mint  con- 
dition, is  vastly  different  from  the  first  quarter  of  a  century's  history,  say 


278  THE   FUTURE. 

from  1 86 1  to  1886.  Our  own  experience  as  a  general  collector,  omnivorous 
as  to  locals,  envelopes,  cards,  shades,  perforations  and  watermarks  galore, 
extended  for  more  than  half  this  period,  and  even  in  those  days  the  force 
majeure  of  the  rapidly  rising  flood  of  varieties  was  borne  upon  us  with 
crushing  effect.  The  history  of  the  second  quarter  of  a  century,  from  1886 
to  191 1,  has  not  yet  been  made  half  way,  and  already  we  have  seen 
stupendous  changes.  "  Great  Britain  and  Colonies,"  or  "  Europe,"  were  at 
the  commencement  of  this  period  deemed  suitable  and  compassable  limits 
of  collection.  There  is,  however,  another  cry  to-day — and  it  is  difficult  to 
foresee  what  it  may  be  before  the  half  century  of  collecting  has  been 
reached.  No  more  significant  fact  of  the  difference  between  the  "old  order" 
and  the  new  can  be  cited  than  the  fact  that  the  two  Post  Office  Mauritius 
from  Dr.  Legrand's  collection  have  been  purchased  for  a  larger  sum  than 
he  has  expended  on  his  whole  collection  ! 


By  a.  a.  BARTLETT. 


Jo  all  Philatelists  who  have  the  interests  of  their  "alma  mater" 
at  heart,  the  frequent  recurrence  of  the  objectionable  features 
marking  the  past  five  or  six  years  must  be  a  matter  of  great 
moment;  I  refer  by  "objectionable  features"  to  that  flood 
of  unnecessary  issues,  commencing  we  may  say  with  the 
Columbian  series,  which,  while  being  marvels  of  the  engraver's 
art,  and  representative  or  commemorative  of  the  most  vital  event  of  the  life 
of  this  Western  Hemisphere,  were  after  all  not  a  postal  necessity  at  all,  down 
to  the  last  issue  of  trash  that  I  am  ashamed  as  a  Canadian  to  write  has  lately 
issued  from  this  Canada  of  ours.  The  Jubilee  issue  of  Canada  is  a  most 
glaring  instance  of  Philatelic  robbery,  and  still  I  fail  to  see  how  our  American 
friends  can  conscientiously  uphold  the  Columbian  and  condemn  the  Jubilee 
issue.  It  is  almost  a  parallel  case  of  two  Governments,  from  whom  better  things 
would  naturally  have  been  expected,  pandering  in  a  contemptible  way  to 
make  money  out  of  stamp  collectors;  the  American  Government  broke  faith 
by  refusing  to  stick  to  their  agreement  of  only  selling  Columbians  up  to  the 
end  of  1892,  and  the  Canadian  Government  committed  the  contemptible  act 
of  first  informing  collectors  that  they  would  only  sell  the  half,  six,  and  eight 
cent,  stamps  along  with  all  the  high  values  up  to  $5.00,  and  then  when  a 
sufficient  quantity  of  these  sets  were  sold,  they  placed  on  sale  the  small  sets 
up  to  50  cents.  There  is  not  a  shadow  of  a  doubt  but  that  a  large  number 
of  these  half,  six,  and  eight  cent,  stamps  are  held  by  Dominion  officials  all 
over  the  country,  and  they  will  be  unloaded  carefully  through  "friends." 
The  action  of  such  Governments  as  the  United  States  and  Canada  is  being 
followed  every  day  by  small  Governments  all  over  the  world,  and  just  so 
long  as  the  collector  allows  himself  to  be  fooled  into  purchasing  and  placing 
these  unreliable  labels  in  his  album,  just  so  long  the  cow  will  stand  ready  for 
milking.  It  seems  to  me  that  if  we  want  stamp  collecting  to  remain  a  live 
issue  in  the  future,  there  remains  only  one  course  for  collectors  to  pursue, 


THE  FUTURE.  279 

and  that  is  to  institute  a  most  rigid  boycott  against  all  unnecessary  postal 
issues.     Make  the  collecting  of  these  things  unfashionable,  and  you  at  once 
wring  the  neck  of  the  goose  that   is   laying  the  golden  t^^  for  these  im- 
pecunious Governments,  and  crush  out  the  disease;  for  if  there  is  no  demand 
for  the  stuff  it  will  cease  to  be  issued,  and  the  Governments  will  not  find 
that  frequent  need  for  new  issues  when  they  find  they  are  required  to  give 
postal  service  for  the  stamps  printed.     Now  take  the  Jubilee  issue  of  Canada 
for  an   example.     It  amounted   to  $1,318,750,  and  a  conservative  estimate 
places  $500,000  as  the  amount  of  money  the  Government  will  make  on  the 
deal  on    the   number   of   stamps   sold    to   dealers,    collectors,  and    souvenir 
hunters,  for  which  they  will  never  be  asked  to  give  postal  duty;  $300,000 
of  this  "steal"  is  made  up  on  the  sale  of  $3.00,  $4.00,  and  $5.00  stamps,  for 
which  there  is  no  more  postal  need  in  Canada  than  there  is  for  a  fifth  wheel 
on  a  coach.     Now  I  contend  that  collectors  have  themselves  to  blame  for  this 
to  a  large  extent,  and  they  have  the  remedy  in  their  own  hands.     Boycott 
this  stufi"  most  effectually,  and  the  evil  in  time  will   effect  its  own  decom- 
position ;  keep  asking  for  it,  and  the  cancer  will  eat  so  effectually  into  the 
whole  system  that  it  will  be  impossible  to  find  a  cure.     I  presume  without 
being  too   egotistical  I  might  instance  my  collection  as  among  the  repre- 
sentative collections  of  Canada  and  British  Colonials,  and  yet  I  have  not 
purchased  the  five  high  values  of  the  Jubilee  issue,  nor  do  I  intend  to.     And 
now  in  regard  to  how  this  evil  may  be  most  successfully  met,  the  following 
plan  seems  to  me  to  offer  a  great  many  advantages.     On  the  ruins  of  the 
Society  for   the   Suppression   of  Speculative   Stamps   why   not   organize   a 
committee  of  four  of  the  most  up-to-date  of  the  prominent  collectors  of  each 
of  the  following  countries,  say  England,*  France,  Germany,  Austria,  and  the 
United  States,  and  have  this  committee  pass  an  opinion  on  all  new  issues, 
whether  postally  required  or  not  ?     If  not,  their  opinion  would  of  necessity 
have  an  enormous  influence  on  all  collectors  in  all  lands  ;  for  while  we  can 
readily  understand  the  feeling  prompting  a  Frenchman   from  hesitating  to 
refuse  to  collect  what  an  Englishman  might  decide  on  being  unnecessary, 
or  a  German  from  refusing  to  chime  in  with  an  American  idea  of  right  and 
wrong,  these  objections  would  be  largely  dissolved  if  a  collector  saw  that  in 
this  cosmopolitan  arrangement  his  own  country  had  a  four-fold  voice.     This 
suggestion  may  be  impracticable,  but  perhaps  if  not  feasible  it  may  lead  up 
to  something  that  is.     I  think  it  is  time  something  decisive  was  done ;  we 
cannot   afford  to  fold  our  hands  and  allow  this  thing  to  go  on.     If  it  be 
found  impossible  to  stop  the  thing  in  any  other  way,  then  I  for  one  will  be 
quite  willing  to  sign  an  agreement  to  cease  collecting  any  postage  stamps 
issued  after  1890;  there  are  enough  issues  prior  to  that,  and  good  ones  too, 
to  give  any  man  an  unlimited  area  to  work  on,  and  never  arrive  at  anything 
approaching  completeness,  and  thus  we  will  escape  that  horrible  avalanche  of 
"  beautiful  unnecessaries  "  that  have  so  burdened  our  lives  for  the  past  seven 
years.     As  it  is,  look  at  your  album  and  see  the  parts  that  interest  you,  and 
you  will  find  in  almost  all  countries  it  is  the  good  old  honest  issues,  sent  out 
as  postal  necessities,  and  not  this  later  lot  of  stuff"  that  we  are  simply  fools  for 
collecting.    We  have  the  remedy  in  our  own  hands  ;  are  we  going  to  use  it  ? 

*  It  will  be  seen  that  Mr.  Bartlett's  suggestion  has  already  been  partly  carried  out. — Ed, 


[        280        ] 

Cl^c  Cnisabe  agaitrst  S]^cculatite  |ssius. 

— ♦ — 

MEETING  OF  THE  S.S.S.S. 

^^B^/  T  will  be  seen  from  the  account  of  the  meeting  of  the  S.S.S.S. 

■^Wk*         which  follows  these  remarks,  that  that  Society  is  by  no  means 

'^l|[P'  defunct,  and  that,  having  shed  those  members  who  are  unable 
>^T'rSpA  to  give  loyal  adhesion  to  its  principles,  it  is  absolutely  de- 

^Ix/^.^-'**--.-  i  termined  upon  proceeding  with  the  work  for  which  it  was 
-=^-.afc^™.--  called  into  existence.  The  fact  that  the  functions  of  the 
S.S.S.S.  have  been  in  apparent  suspension  for  several  months  has  caused 
frequent  and  fully  justified  adverse  comments  in  the  world  of  Philatelic 
Journalism.  To  a  certain  extent  the  Society  has  been  the  victim  of 
circumstances.  In  the  interval  that  has  elapsed  since  the  Society's  more 
active  operations  the  London  Philatelic  Exhibition  has  intervened.  The 
defection  of  certain  members  of  the  S.S.S.S.  has  been  coterminous  with  this 
period  of  busy  times  for  all  the  leading  names  connected  with  the  movement 
against  spurious  issues,  and  it  was  felt — and  perhaps  with  a  certain  degree 
of  cogency — that  the  whole  question  had  better  be  "  shelved "  until  the 
Exhibition  was  over,  and  the  leisure  afforded  for  a  due  consideration  of  all 
the  bearings  of  the  question.  In  any  case,  the  inaction  is  in  no  measure  a 
reproach  to  Mr.  Gordon  Smith,  the  Hon.  Secretary,  as  was  fully  expressed 
at  the  meeting  on  the  15th  October.  The  ex-Hon.  Secretary's  opinions 
are  strongly  in  favour  of  the  new  movement,  as  evidenced  by  his  election 
to  the  new  Committee,  and  whatever  degree  of  blame  exists  for  the 
"  suspended  animation  "  of  the  S.S.S.S.  must  be  sought  elsewhere. 

The  support  of  many  of  the  largest  dealers  was  unhesitatingly  given 
to  the  movement  at  the  beginning.  The  smaller  members  of  the  trade  did 
not,  however,  all  loyally  support  this  righteous  action,  and  in  view  of  this  the 
position  of  the  former  became  untenable.  In  some  cases  of  issues  whose 
Philatelic  birth  was  at  first  considered  as  illegitimate — e.g.  the  Greek 
Olympian,  and  later  of  the  Canadian  Issue — want  of  co-operation  acted 
very  hardly  upon  those  who  were  loyal.  In  reviewing  the  present  situation, 
it  cannot  be  forgotten  that  the  demand  for  these  and  kindred  issues,  on  the 
part  of  collectors,  has  been  an  important  factor  in  this  case. 

It  has  been  rendered  therefore  clear  that  a  dual  Committee  of  collectors 
and  dealers  was  impracticable,  and  the  conclusion  has  wisely  been  arrived 
at  that  the  safer  course  in  future  is  to  advise  collectors  as  to  their  purchases, 
but  avoid  any  attempt  to  dictate  to  anyone  what  they  should  sell.  If  the 
collector  likes  to  take  the  good  advice  given  to  him,  he  is  protected  ;  if  not, 
he  has  been  warned,  and  he  will  discover  the  fruits  thereof  when  he  realizes 
his  stamps ! 

Much  can  be  done  in  putting  collectors  and  Postal  authorities  on  their 
guard  as  to  the  speculation  on  the  part  of  Post  Office  servants.  It  is  this 
speculative  abuse  of  their  confidential  position  on  the  part  of  Postmasters 
and  their  assistants  that  has  been  the  most  fruitful  factor  in  the  pre- 
valence both  of  Provi.sional  and  Jubilee  Issues.     The  S.S.S.S.  can  do  sound 


THE   CRUSADE  AGAINST  SPECULATIVE  ISSUES.  281 

work  in  collecting  facts  connected  with  the  nefarious  transactions  of  Post 
officialdom,  and  forward  the  same  to  their  respective  Governments.  A 
correspondent  of  ours  recently  bought  at  a  Colonial  Crown  Post  Office, /rt?;;/ 
tlie  Postmaster  himself,  a  set,  as  a  favour  (though  a  complete  stranger),  of  the 
recently  current  stamps  at  more  than  twice  face  value.  Is  this  in  accordance 
with  the  Postmasters'  general  instruction  to  their  employes  ? 

In  further  exemplification  of  this  modern  system  of  exploiting  collectors 
for  the  benefit  of  officials,  the  following  will  repay  the  most  careful  perusal. 

With  reference  to  the  so-called  Cabot  Issue  of  Newfoundland  we  have 
received  the  following  interesting  letter  from  Mr.  H.  L.  Lyman,  of  Montreal : 

"Montreal,  October  2nd,  1897. 

"  To  the  Editor  of  the  '  London  Philatelist.' 

"  Dear  Sir, — Though  personally  unknown  to  you,  I  take  the  liberty  of  enclosing 
a  letter  from  the  Newfoundland  correspondent  of  the  Montreal  Gazette  in  reference 
to  that  Colony's  Cabot  Commemoration  issue,  in  case  you  may  think  some  extracts 
from  it  are  worth  insertion  in  the  Pliilatelist. 

"The  naive  manner  in  which  the  writer  admits  the  needlessness  of  the  issue 
for  postal  purposes,  and  rejoices  over  the  conjuring  of  all  this  money  out  of  the 
pockets  of  the  stamp  collectors  as  by  the  waving  of  an  enchanter's  wand,  and  regrets 
that  it  cannot  be  done  annually,  is  very  rich." 

A    FINE    STAMP    ISSUE. 

Newfoundland's  Commemoration  of  Cabot's  Discovery. 

IT  "WAS  A  HAPPY  IDEA. 

It  Also  Brought  the  Colony  a  Special  Revenue  of  Quite  Three  Hundred 

Thousand  Dollars. 

"St.  John's,  Newfoundland,  September  20. — So  far  as  I  am  aware,  only  two 
British  colonies— Canada  and  Newfoundland — have  issued  special  memorial  postage 
stamps  in  this  jubilee  year.  The  Canadian  is  known  as  the  Victoria  jubilee  issue; 
the  Newfoundland  is  commonly  called  the  Cabot  issue,  being  designed  to  com- 
memorate the  discovery  of  the  island  by  John  Cabot,  four  hundred  years  ago ; 
though  one  of  the  series — the  one  cent  stamp — is  a  portrait  of  Queen  Victoria. 
Hence  it  is  sometimes  called  the  Jubilee-Cabot  issue. 

"  In  beauty  and  novelty  of  design,  and  in  excellence  of  execution,  our  series  is 
unsurpassed.  Their  fame  has  gone  through  all  the  earth,  and  the  demand  for  them 
from  east,  west,  north,  and  south  is  extraordinary.  To  any  stamp  collector's  album 
they  furnish  a  most  attractive  feature.  Speculation  in  them  is  rife,  and  in  several 
of  them  'corners'  are  already  established.  The  issue  of  the  one  cent — 400,000  — 
is  so  nearly  exhausted  that  none  are  sold  singly,  and  the  Post  Office  authorities  have 
reserved  15,000,  all  that  remain,  to  complete  sets  of  the  two-cent  stamp,  of  which 
the  same  number  was  issued,  only  70,000  remain,  and  they  are  going  off  rapidly. 
The  number  of  orders  pouring  in  for  them  by  every  mail  is  simply  astounding. 
Speculators  are  hard  at  work,  and  offers  for  purchasing  to  the  value  of  Si 0,000,  and 
even  as  high  as  $20,000,  have  been  received.  Complete  sets  can  still  be  had; 
but  it  is  calculated  that  by  the  end  of  the  year  few  will  remain ;  at  all  events  it  will 
be  difficult  to  obtain  complete  sets.  The  mania  for  stamp  collecting,  which  is  now 
universal  in  the  civilized  world,  is  the  cause  for  this  rush  on  our  stamps.  Speculators 
who  were  early  in  the  field  and  bought  largely  will  realize  large  profits.  No  matter 
how  large  the  order,  the  Government  has  prohibited  any  being  sold  under  the  face 
value,  as  they  know  quite  well  that  every  one  of  them  will  be  sold  at  that  rate. 


282  THE  CRUSADE  AGAINST  SPECULATIVE  ISSUES. 

The  smallest  issues  are  of  the  24  cents,  the  30,  35,  and  60  cents;  and  'corners' 
will  probably  be  made  in  these,  as  only  100,000  of  each  have  been  issued.  The 
largest  issue  is  of  the  3  cent  stamp,  which  numbers  a  million;  and  of  these  350,000 
are  already  sold. 

"Not  the  least  interesting  feature  of  this  issue  is  its  results  financially.  When 
profit,  honestly  and  legitimately  made,  is  added  to  the  glory  of  a  transaction,  who 
will  venture  to  find  fault  or  condemn  ?  If  a  handsome  addition  to  the  revenue  will 
be  secured  by  the  Cabot  issue,  surely  this  enhances  its  value.  The  face  value  of  the 
whole  issue  printed  is  §341,000.  It  is  safe  to  assume  that  every  one  will  be  sold — 
the  great  bulk  of  them  by  the  end  of  the  year.  The  expense  of  engraving  and 
printing  is  small — gum  and  paper  are  not  costly  materials.  The  great  bulk  of  the 
issue  will  be  purchased  by  stamp  collectors  and  speculators,  and  entirely  for  cash. 
This  will  be  a  clear  gain  to  the  Government,  the  expense  of  production  being  merely 
nominal.  The  proportion  of  the  issue  purchased  and  used  for  business  purposes, 
in  such  a  limited  time,  and  by  a  population  of  210,000,  would  not  be  very  great. 
If  we  allow  $41,000  for  such  ordinary  purchases,  together  with  the  expense  of 
production,  there  would  remain  §300,000  of  clear  profit  to  the  Government.  This 
is  an  excellent  financial  stroke,  unobjectionable  in  every  way,  and  involving  no  risk 
or  outlay  of  capital.  The  gain  comes  as  by  the  waving  of  an  enchanter's  wand. 
Three  hundred  thousand  dollars  are  added  to  the  year's  revenue,  a  sum  which  will 
cover  more  than  the  half  of  the  interest  on  the  public  debt  for  the  year.  Being  an 
exceptional  gain,  which  did  not  enter  into  the  public  estimates,  it  might  be  used  for 
any  legitimate  public  purpose,  or  to  meet  any  national  emergency.  It  is  really  a  startling 
financial  enterprise,  the  only  drawback  being  that  it  cannot  be  repeated  annually." 

The  circumstances  connected  with  the  issue  (or  rather  non-issue)  of  the 
Canadian  Jubilee  set  are  even  more  discreditable,  and  fully  deserve  the 
censures  passed  upon  them  by  the  Philatelic  world  and  the  S.S.S.S.  The 
following  remarks  made  by  a  writer  in  The  Metropolitan  Philatelist  clearly 
indicate  official  jobbery : 

"  But  now  that  the  stamps  have  been  issued  in  certain  given  numbers  and  in  the 
Postmaster-General's  peculiar  way,  where  are  they  ?  That  is  what  a  great  many  want 
to  know,  and  that  is  a  question  that  viitst  be  answered.  I  know  where  some  of  them 
are.  I  had  a  letter  from  a  Postmaster's  son  at  a  small  office  in  Quebec,  asking 
me  what  I  would  give  for  forty-five  8  c.  Jubilee  stamps.  I  had  a  letter  from  an  office 
in  Prince  Edward  Island,  asking  my  prices  for  i,  6,  and  8  c.  Jubilee  stamps. 
Collectors  in  the  principal  cities  of  the  Dominion  have  seen  whole  sheets  of  \  c. 
stamps  in  the  possession  of  Post  Oftice  employees.  These  little  incidents  may  give 
one  some  idea  where  the  stamps  are. 

"  I  also  have  a  pretty  good  idea  where  the  stamps  are  not.  A  prominent 
Toronto  dealer  laid  $100  on  the  stamp  counter  the  first  day  of  sale,  and  was 
tendered  two  specimens  of  the  ^  c.  and  6  c.  stamps.  At  Montreal,  Toronto,  St. 
John,  Halifax,  and  all  the  principal  cities,  not  more  than  two  specimens  of  the 
\,  6,  8,  10,  15,  20,  and  50  c.  stamps  were  sold  to  the  same  person,  that  is,  of  course, 
outside  the  Post  Ofiice  staft'.  I  have  it  on  good  authority  that  there  is  not  a  stamp 
dealer  in  Canada  who  has  one  hundred  of  the  |  c.  value,  unless  he  happens  to 
be  a  Post  Oftice  employee  also.  The  stamps  are  not  in  the  dealers'  stamp  books 
then,  for  they  have  not  been  able  to  get  them.  I  wrote  to  Fredericton  the  other  day 
for  a  few  10,  15,  20,  and  50  c.  stamps  and  the  Postmaster  returned  the  money, 
and  said  they  could  be  supplied  only  in  complete  sets.  One  meets  with  the  same 
reception  at  nearly  every  office.     \\"hat  were  the  stamps  made  for  if  not  to  be  sold  to 


THE  CRUSADE  AGAINST  SPECULATIVE  ISSUES.  283 

the  public  as  the  public  wants  them?     What  would  be  thought  of  a  furniture  store 
where  one  could  not  purchase  a  table  or  a  chair,  but  must  take  a  whole  set  ?     The 

thing  is  ridiculous." 

♦ 

THE   S.S.S.S. 

A  General  Meeting  of  members  of  the  Society  was  held  at  Effingham 
House  on  Friday,  October  15th,  at  five  o'clock.  The  chair  was  taken  by 
Mr.  M.  P.  Castle,  and  there  were  present :  Major  Evans,  Messrs.  J.  A. 
Tilleard,  R.  Pearce,  Gordon  Smith,  E.  J.  Nankivell,  Robert  Ehrenbach,  M. 
Giwelb,  and  H.  Hilckes. 

The  Hon.  Secretary,  Mr.  Gordon  Smith,  presented  a  report  of  the  work 
and  present  condition  of  the  Society,  by  which  it  appeared  that  there  was 
a  small  balance  in  hand,  although  no  call  had  been  made  upon  members 
for  the  current  year's  subscription.  The  reasons  for  the  recent  inaction  of 
the  Society  were  explained,  and,  in  the  discussion  that  ensued  on  the  report, 
Mr.  Gordon  Smith's  difficult  position  as  Hon.  Secretary  was  fully  appreciated. 

The  future  action  of  the  Society  under  its  proposed  altered  conditions 
was  fully  discussed,  and  an  absolute  unanimity  among  those  present 
prevailed  as  to  the  necessity  for  future  and  strenuous  effort  against  the 
speculative  issues.  The  wisdom  of  confining  the  Committee  to  collectors 
only  was  fully  acknowledged,  but  the  co-operation  of  the  many  members 
of  the  trade,  still  able  and  willing  to  aid  in  the  good  work,  was  cordially 
welcomed.     The  following  resolutions  were  unanimously  carried  : 

"That  in  order  to  carry  out  the  objects  for  which  the  S.S.S.S.  was  formed,  and  to 
actively  carry  on  the  crusade  against  speculative  and  unnecessary  issues,  inaugurated 
by  the  Society,  the  time  has  now  arrived  when  the  work  can  be  more  effectively 
promoted  by  a  committee  composed  of  collectors  only." 

"That  the  Special  Committee  of  the  London  Philatelic  Society  for  the  time 
being  appointed  for  dealing  with  speculative  and  unnecessary  issues,  be  requested 
to  undertake  the  consideration  of  all  speculative  and  unnecessary  issues,  and  to 
announce  their  decisions  from  time  to  time  in  the  London  Philatelist  and  other 
Philatelic  journals." 

The  meeting  then  proceeded  to  nominate  and  elect  officers  for  the 
Society  as  follows : 

President — M.  P.  Castle.  Vice-President — Major  E.  B.  Evans. 

Hon.  Treas.  and  Sec. — H.  R.  Oldfield. 

Committee — R.  Pearce,  E.  J.  Nankivell,  J.  A.  Tilleard,  R.  Ehrenbach,  and 

Gordon  Smith. 
It  was  resolved  that  the  Special  Committee  of  the  London  Society  be  re- 
quested to  take  the  necessary  steps  forthwith  for  carrying  out  these  resolutions. 
The  meeting  then  resolved  that  the  following  should  be  condemned  as 
speculative   or   unnecessary,   and    their   decision    published    in    the   manner 
recommended. 

Canada — Jubilee  Set. 

Newfoundland — Cabot  issue. 

New  South  Wales — Hospital  Stamps. 

Victoria — Hospital  Stamps. 

Leeward  Islands — Surcharged,  Centenary. 


[      284     ] 


C|)£  lEnpsic  IflljiliilHic  ®^i^ibitiou. 


HE  Philatelic  adjunct  to  the  general  Industrial  Exhibition 
held  this  summer  at  Leipsic  has,  we  learn  with  much  pleasure 
from  Continental  sources,  been  a  conspicuous  success.  Al- 
though it  was  limited  to  exhibits  of  Leipsic  members,  foreign 
competition  being  thus  entirely  shut  out,  we  welcome  none  the 
less  the  evidences  of  a  lively  Philatelic  interest  in  the  Father- 
land, actuated  by  the  conviction  that  in  the  best  interests  of  Philatley,  national 
distinctions  should  be  overlooked,  and  that  increasing  prosperity  to  our 
common  hobby  is  a  source  of  gratification  to  us  all. 

The  Exhibition,  which  remained  open  from  the  20th  of  September  to  the 
4th  of  October,  was  held  in  a  large  hall  measuring  about  280  feet  in  length 
by  120  in  width,  lit  from  above  (the  light  being  duly  screened),  and  the 
exhibits  were  in  rows  of  upright  glazed  frames  and  wall  cases,  somewhat 
similar  to  those  used  at  our  own  show.  The  general  arrangements,  despite 
the  fact  that  no  prizes  were  given,  seem  to  have  given  great  satisfaction, 
owing  to  the  unstinted  labours  of  the  Committee  of  the  Leipsic  Section  of 
the  Dresden  Philatelic  Society,  and  the  total  number  of  visitors  was  over  7000. 
The  exhibits  seem  to  have  been  of  a  high  class,  and,  thanks  to  one  or  two 
big  collectors,  are  stated  to  have  included  all  the  rarities,  except  the  two  Post 
Office  Mauritius.  A  creditable  feature  is  to  be  acknowledged,  i.e.  that,  differing 
thus  from  the  Exhibitions  of  Geneva  and  Zurich,  the  stamps  of  their  own 
country  were  not  all  predominant  at  this  Exhibition.  The  interesting  stamps 
of  Saxony  were  naturally  well  shown,  inclusive  of  six  copies  of  the  Jg.  error, 
and  some  scores  of  the  3  pf ,  unused,  used,  and  "  on  original." 
Among  the  most  noteworthy  exhibits  may  be  cited  : 

Herr  Fischer-Brill. — A  large  general  collection  of  used  and  unused,  inclusive 
of  no  less  than  200,000  stamps  of  the  constructed  plates  of  Great  Britain,  arranged  in 
frames ;  these  were  all  exhibited,  and  occupied  a  considerable  portion  of  the  whole 
available  space  !  Switzerland  was  well  shown,  including  types  of  the  4  r.,  Zurich,  and 
repeated  copies  of  all  the  Swiss  cantonals.  The  United  States  and  Confederate  locals 
were  also  a  strong  lot,  inclusive  of  the  5  c.  St.  Louis,  and  many  others  on  covers.  In 
all  countries  this  exhibitor  showed  good  stamps,  which,  mounted  and  arranged  on 
the  most  modern  principles,  created  a  highly  favourable  impression. 

Herr  E.  Beilicke. — A  very  fine  and  complete  collection  of  post  cards,  supposed 
to  be  the  largest  in  Germany. 

Herr  B.  Blauhuth. — A  specialized  collection  of  the  stamps  of  Bolivia,  etc.  Mr. 
Blauhuth  has  always  had  a  deserved  reputation  for  the  possession  of  fine  Bolivian 
stamps,  many  of  the  best  of  which  in  this  country  have  emanated  from  him. 

Dr.  Kloss. — A  specialized  collection  of  Saxony,  unused,  including  proofs  and 
varieties  of  obliteration  on  the  letter.     This  is  a  well-known  collection. 

Herr  K.  Richter.— Spain  and  Colonies. 

Herr  H.  Schwaneberg. — A  very  interesting  lot  of  the  Balloon  Letter  Post 
Envelopes  of  Paris,  containing  exceptional  curiosities,  such  as  some  of  the  foregoing, 


THE  LEIPSIC  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION.  285 

that  were  fished  out  of  the  Seine  in  a  tin  box  nearly  three  years  after  the  siege, 
and  duly  delivered. 

Herr  p.  Kohl. — A  special  collection  of  Roumania,  which,  with  Servia,  seems 
rapidly  developing  into  fashionable  countries.  This  collection  of  Roumania  must 
rank  as  one  of  the  finest  and  most  complete  existing.  The  first  issue  contains 
27  p.  on  letter,  five  copies  of  the  54  p.,  some  on  original,  several  of  the  108  p.,  and 
on  one  letter  a  27,  an  81,  and  two  of  the  108  p.  The  following  issue  includes  sheets 
of  all  values,  and  four  specimens  of  the  5  p.,  black,  used,  on  original — a  very  rare 
thing.  The  whole  of  the  remaining  issues  are  thoroughly  well  worked  up,  and,  taken 
as  a  whole,  this  exhibit  would  command  attention  in  any  competition. 

Herr  H.  Krotzsch. — Essays  and  proofs  of  the  Brunswick  stamps  and  the  eight 
different  impressions  of  the  i^  sch.,  Schleswig,  of  1865-67. 

Herr  R.  Senf. — A  fine  general  collection  of  unused  stamps,  characterized,  as 
might  be  expected,  by  grand  condition,  and  including  many  rarities. 

Herr  A.  Schmidt. — Special  collection  of  Swiss,  to  a  large  extent  on  the  original 
covers,  the  same  condition  applying  to  his  exhibit  of  old  German  stamps,  which 
embraced  no  less  than  seventeen  of  the  3  pf..  Saxony,  thus. 

Herr  G.  Graupner. — English  Colonials,  unused. 

Herr  H.  Muhlman. — A  general  collection  of  unused  specimens  of  the  Issues 
of  1890-1. 

Space  forbids  our  mentioning  all  those  who  showed  good  things,  but  we 
should  add  that  the  Trade  Exhibitors  included  Messrs.  P.  Kohl,  F.  Llicke, 
H.  Krotzsch,  Baumbach  and  Co.,  E.  Petritz,  and  Senf  Bros.,  all  of  whom 
are  well  known  here. 

The  important  feature  of  the  exhibits  was  doubtless  the  presence  of 
the  stamps  of  Consul  von  Mutzenbecher.  This  collection  is  enshrined 
in  four  large  voluines,  that  we  have  had  the  pleasure  of  inspecting  on  more 
than  one  occasion,  and  is  without  doubt  one  of  the  most  important 
collections  of  the  day.  The  worthy  Consul  has  been  an  ardent  collector 
for  many  years,  with  a  special  eye  to  fine  things  and  a  weakness  for  stamps 
on  the  original  cover,  among  which  latter  he  possesses  specimens  that 
are  hardly  met  with  twice  in  a  life-time  on  the  original  letter.  We 
believe  that  to-day  (it  is  some  time  since  we  inspected  the  collection)  it 
is  only  exceptional  things  that  Herr  Mutzenbecher  wants  on  the  original, 
e.g.  Post  Office  Mauritius,  Llibeck,  2\  sch.,  error,  British  Guianas,  etc.,  as  it 
includes  nearly  all  the  great  rarities — United  States  Postmasters'  Stamps, 
British  Guiana,  Reunion,  etc.  etc.,  and  must  be  of  great  value.  It,  however, 
sadly  wants  rearranging  on  modern  scientific  lines. 

It  was  a  subject  of  much  regret  that  the  splendid  general  collection 
of  Herr  Martin  Schroder  was  not  available,  as,  though  his  predilection 
for  specializing  is  well-known,  few  have  any  idea  of  the  great  strength 
of  his  Philatelic  possessions. 

We  have  to  acknowledge  with  thanks  information  as  to  this  successful 
Exhibition  from  several  correspondents,  and  to  credit  some  portion  of  the 
information  to  the  reports  of  the  DeiUscJie  Bricfiiiarken  Zeitiing,  Illustricrtcs 
Briefmarken  Journal,  and    the  Philatelic  Monthly. 


[      286     ] 


IPljilatclk  Holts. 


Note.  —  The  co-operation  of  Philatelists  is  invited  in  order  to  make  this  column  of  a  varied 

atid  interesting  nature. 


FORGERIES  OF  THE  NAPLES  STAMPS. 
R.  J.  N.  Marsden  has  shown  us  some  forgeries  of  this  historical  and 
interesting  issue  that  are  sufficiently  dangerous  to  call  for  a  note  of 
warning.  The  50  grani  with  Arms  is  a  lithographic  reproduction,  bearing  a 
good  general  resemblance  to  the  original,  but  the  sharp  impression,  resulting 
from  taille-doiice  engraving,  that  characterizes  the  genuine  article,  makes  them 
far  apart. 

Far  more  dangerous,  however,  are  the  imitations  of  the  \  gr.  with  the 
Arms  and   the  \  T  with  the  Cross.     These  are  engraved  apparently  from 


steel  dies,  the  same  die  having  evidently  been  used  for  both  productions, 
with  the  exception  of  the  central  design  and  the  letter  "T"  in  the  inscription. 
These  portions,  to  avoid  expense,  have  been  made  removable,  separate  dies 
having  been  respectively  made  for  the  Cross,  the  Arms,  the  "  C,"  and  the 
"  T."  The  Cross,  in  one  specimen,  is  printed  in  a  distinctly  darker  shade  than 
the  outer  portion  of  the  stamp.  Considerable  taste  has  been  shown  in  the 
production  of  this  delightful  facsimile,  as  the  Savoy  Cross  shows  a  due 
amount  of  remaining  lines  of  the  Bourbon  Arms,  the  postmark  "  Annulato  " 
in  an  oblong  frame  is  printed  in  discreetly  faded  ink,  and  the  stamps  are 
unevenly  cut,  with  the  austereness  that  might  be  anticipated  from  the 
distributor's  use  of  the  scissors  !  The  general  appearance  is  highly  deceptive, 
and  it  is  advisable  to  regard  with  care  before  buying  these  stamps.  One  test 
may,  however,  be  safely  mentioned — obviously  for  both  varieties.  In  these 
forgeries  the  letters  "  P  "  and  "  O  "  of  "  POSTA  "  are  practically  joined. 


DISCOVERIES. 
USTRIAN-Italy. — Copies  of  the  5  c,  yellow,  of  the  first  issue  of  this 
country  are  found  with  comparative  frequency  bearing  an  impression 
on  the  reverse,  and  the  3  kr.  is  even  generally  believed  to  exist  in  like 
condition.  The  impressions  on  the  back  are  naturally  found  in  various 
positions,  frequently  showing  portions  of  four  stamps,  and  are  always  fainter 
than  those  on  the  front  side.  By  artificial  light  a  faint  impression  in  yellow 
would  be  hardly  visible,  and  it  has  been  ascribed  to  this  cause  that  so  many 
sheets  have  been  twice  imprinted.     Mr.  J.  Bernichon  has,  however,  kindly 


PHILATELIC  NOTES.  287 

sent  to  us  a  specimen  that  presents  quite  a  new  phase  as  to  the  position 
occupied  by  the  dies  in  the  original  plate.  The  stamp  under  view  shows  on 
the  reverse  side  portions  of  four  stamps,  but  the  one  to  the  lower  right  has 
clearly  been  printed  tete-beche  with  regard  to  the  remaining  three.  These 
stamps  were  printed  in  sheets  of  sixty,  but  the  four  spaces  to  the  right,  at  the 
bottom  of  the  sheet,  were  occupied  by  the  well-known  crosses  of  colour.  We 
have  seen  large  portions  of  the  sheets  of  several  values,  principally  in  the 
kreuzer  values,  but  have  never  seen  any  indications  of  the  abnormal  position 
of  one  of  the  dies.  The  question  that  calls  for  solution  by  the  appearance  of 
this  variety  is  whether  this  variety  occurs  in  sheets  printed  for  public  use,  or 
whether  the  existence  of  these  double  impressions  in  general  may  not  be  due  to 
the  using  up  of  paper  that  had  been  used  for  experimental  or  trial  impressions. 
There  is  nothing  abnormal  in  these  impressions  on  the  reverse,  beyond  the 
paler  tint,  the  spaces  intervening  between  each  stamp  agreeing  exactly  with 
those  of  the  regular  issue.  In  any  case,  the  variety  is  of  considerable  interest, 
and  we  hope  that  some  further  light  may  be  thrown  on  the  subject.  We 
should  add  that  the  impression  on  the  reverse  has  been  subjected  to  careful 
examination  both  here  and  in  Vienna,  and  no  suspicion  is  entertained  as  to 
its  authenticity. 

Holland,  1867,  15  c. — In  our  last  issue  (page  258)  we  made  some 
remarks  as  to  the  existence  of  the  stamp  perforated  ioxio|,  and  alluded 
to  the  fact  of  there  being  so  few  copies  known  (two  or  perhaps  three) 
that  its  existence  had  been  generally  disbelieved.  Curiously  enough,  the  note 
had  hardly  been  printed  when  we  received  the  following  letter  from  a 
correspondent.  The  English  market  is  generally  held  upon  the  Continent 
to  be  the  dearest,  but  it  would  seem  that  "  the  best  endeavours  at  pricing " 
across  the  Channel  are  worthy  of  respect. 

"Sir, — I  am  in  possession  of  the  15  cent  Holland,  1867,  perf.  io|,  a  fine  used 
specimen.  Knowing  you  have  a  fine  collection  of  Holland,  I  take  the  liberty  to  ask 
if  you  will  buy  this  rare  stamp.  I  offer  it  for  the  price  of  ^90  without  any  discount. 
Mr.  Wreesman,  President  of  the  section  Groninger  of  the  Philatelic  Society  of 
Holland,  has  seen  it,  and  considers  it  the  finest  specimen  he  ever  saw.  Mr.  Schafer,  of 
Amsterdam,  was  the  first  who  found  a  loi  perf.,  but  it  was  not  in  mint  state.  My 
specimen  is  the  second  stamp  known  in  this  perforation.  (?) 

"An  early  answer  is  requested,  because  I  receive  many  high  ofters." 

Victoria  :  Emblems. — We  are  indebted  to  our  Australian  corre- 
spondent for  another  addition  to  the  long  roll  of  Victorian  varieties.  We 
may  add  that  we  have  now  seen  the  specimen  referred  to,  and  from  its 
colour,  which  we  should  rather  call  grey-lilac,  we  should  place  it  as  of 
the  later  period  of  these  "  Emblems,"  with  the  single-lined  numeral 
watermark.     He  writes  as  follows : 

"  Yet  another  discovery !  Mr.  T.  Hagen,  of  Sydney,  has  had  the  good  fortune 
to  find  a  copy  of  the  2d.,  Victoria,  "Emblems"  type,  brown-lilac,  perforated,  with 
watermark  sitigie-line  6.  This  is  quite  new  to  Australia  and,  I  believe,  to  the 
Philatelic  world  generally.  The  stamp  is  used,  and  the  watermark  is  beautifully 
distinct  and  perfectly  centred.  It  has  been  submitted  to  Mr.  David  H.  Hill,  of 
Melbourne,  who  is  of  opinion  that  it  is  quite  correct,  and  thinks  that  it  is  the  result 
of  carelessness  in  issuing  watermarked  paper  for  stamp  printing." 


288  OCCASIONAL   N07ES. 

Mr.  J.  A.  Tilleard  has  also  shown  us  another  variety  of  the  same  issue 
that  is  a  record,  in  the  guise  of  the  4d.,  rose,  without  watermark,  clearly- 
printed  on  both  sides.  The  stamp  is  duly  postmarked,  and  was  discovered 
quite  accidentally  by  its  owner.  Impressions  on  the  reverse  side  occur  but 
very  rarely  in  this  Colony. 

ROUMANIA. — The  American  Joiimal  of  Philately  is  responsible  for  the 
following  information,  which  is  certainly  of  a  nature  that  we  should  not  have 
anticipated  : 

"Mr.  A.  Krassa  has  just  discovered  a  new  variety,  which  will  be  a  surprise  to 
collectors  of  European  stamps,  in  the  shape  of  a  15  bani  red,  of  the  1869  issue,  on 
laid  paper  with  distinct  laid  lines.     The  specimen  is  undoubtedly  genuine." 


rmsianiil  Stoles. 

THE   TAP  LING  COLLECTION. 

lE  are  informed  by  Mr.  E.  D.  Bacon  that  the  stamps  on  view  at  the 
1  British  Museum  have  again  been  changed,  and  that  the  following 
countries  are  now  available  for  public  inspection  :  The  remaining  portions  of 
the  Transvaal,  with  those  of  the  second  South  African  Republic,  Cape  of 
Good  Hope,  Griqualand,  and  British  Bechuanaland.  The  stamps  of  the  Cape 
will  be  found  to  include  some  grand  examples,  notably  in  the  "  wood  blocks," 
among  them  being  the  one  penny,  error,  in  dark  blue. 


PRESENTATIONS   TO   THE  "  TAP  LING  COLLECTION;' 


E  have  much  pleasure  in  announcing  the  following  list  of  additions  to 
the  National  Collection  : — 

Antioquia. — An  unused  specimen  of  the  i  c,  black  on  white,  issue 
1876,  on  /rt/c/ paper. — Messrs.  Buhl  &  Co.,  Ltd. 

Canada. — Letter  sheet  prepaid  by  coin,  postmarked  "  Montreal,  Canada 
—Paid  Sp.  II.  1863."— Mr.  R.  Tyeth  Stevens. 

Great  Britain. — Circular  letter  sheet  franked  by  an  impressed  One 
Penny  red  newspaper  stamp,  die  A.  66'^,  and  postmarked  "  Hull.  Oc.  19. 
1852."— Mr.  R.  Tyeth  Stevens. 

India. — Used  specimens  of  the  current  2  a.,  4  a.,  8  a.,  and  i  r.,  surcharged 
"  On  H.  M.  S."— Miss  Ca.ssels. 

New  South  Wales. — An  unused  specimen  of  the  2d.,  issue  end  of 
1867,  watermarked  with  double-lined  numeral  "  5." — Mr.  W.  W.  Blest. 

Russia. — An  unused  set  of  the  current  stamps  from  i  kopec  to  7  roubles. 
—Mr.  T.  Notthafft. 

South  Africa  Republic. — Used  copies  of  the  id.  and  2d.,  issue  1895, 
and  an  unused  specimen  of  the  id.  "commemorative  issue"  of  the  same 
year. — Miss  Cassels. 


OCCASIONAL  NOTES.  289 

Straits  Settlements. — An  unused  specimen  of  the  32  cents,  carmine- 
rose,  of  1894,  without  the  usual  surcharge  of  "Three  Cents." — Messrs. 
Whitfield  King  &  Co. 

Tasmania.  —  Six  varieties  of  the  official  frank  stamps  not  in  the 
collection. — Messrs.  Brown  &  Skipton. 

Victoria. — Twenty-two  varieties  of  the  official  frank  stamps  not  in  the 
collection. — Messrs.  Brown  and  Skipton. 


A  NEW  COLOUR  STANDARD. 

ANY  have  been  the  attempts  to  classify  the  several  colours  and  their 
subordinate  shades,  but  all  have  hitherto  failed  to  be  of  any  practical 
service  to  the  Philatelist.  It  appears,  however,  from  announcements  made 
in  the  American  daily  press  that  an  elaborate  system,  including  no  less  than 
8000  different  shades,  has  been  devised.  The  author  of  this  system  is  Mr. 
Louis  Prang,  a  well-known  eastern  colourist,  who  has  given  forty  years  to  the 
study  of  the  subject.  It  remains  to  be  seen  how  far  this  is  practical,  and  we 
therefore  refrain  from  expressing  any  opinion  until  we  have  seen  the  system 
and  "  classification  accompanied  by  a  carefully-prepared  series  of  plates." 
The  needle  in  the  bundle  of  hay  seems  to  ourselves  at  first  blush  a  trifle 
compared  to  the  selection  of  the  missing  shade  among  the  eight  thousand ! 


M 


THE  JUNIOR  STAMP  COLLECTOR. 

HE  necessity  for  sowing  the  seeds  for  the  Philatelic  plant  of  the  future 
has  been  urged  in  many  quarters,  and,  although  attended  with  but 
a  meagre  result,  was  not  forgotten  in  the  London  Philatelic  Exhibition.  A 
fresh  attempt,  however,  has  now  been  made  to  bring  up  the  young  as  they 
should  be,  in  enlisting  their  sympathies  and  interest  for  stamp  collecting 
through  the  medium  of  a  journal,  under  the  above  appropriate  heading. 
The  publishers  are  Messrs.  Margoschis  Bros.,  of  147,  Constitution  Hill, 
Birmingham,  and  the  subscription  is  one  shilling  and  sixpence  per  annum, 
post-free.  The  journal  seems  in  many  respects  well  equipped  for  its  purpose, 
and  is  not  written  above  the  boys'  heads.  There  is  some  excellent  advice 
on  "What  to  Collect,"  by  "An  Old  Beginner,"  and  it  appears  that  a  Youths' 
Stamp  Society  is  being  inaugurated  at  Birmingham.  We  extend  our  best 
wishes   for   the   success    of    these   ventures    for    the   benefit   of    the   rising 

generation. 

♦ 

STEP-MOTHERLY  ATTENTIONS ! 

JE  have  already  alluded  to  the  fact  that  the  Philatelist,  which  is  the 
organ  of  the  Dresden  Society,  has,  for  some  occult  reason,  boycotted 
the  London  Philatelic  Exhibition,  despite  which  it  managed  somehow  to 
thrive.  In  the  September  number  it  has  broken  silence  in  a  minute  paragraph 
among  its  Miscellanea  to  the  effect  that  the  non-English  exhibitors  were 
treated  in  a  very  "step-motherly  way,  only  four  silver  and  nine  bronze 
medals  being  awarded  to  foreign  exhibitors."     This  is  a  direct  imputation 


290  OCCASIONAL  NOTES. 

upon  the  judges,  two  of  whom  are  members  of  the  Dresden  Society,  and 
we  understand  that  the  editor  will  be  invited  to  make  good  his  insinuation, 
or  else  withdraw  it.  It  is  quite  unnecessary  to  characterize  such  a  statement, 
which  simply  recoils  on  its  own  head,  and  will  hardly  increase  its  author's 
prestige.  The  criticism  has  not  even  the  merit  of  truthfulness.  The  number  of 
medals  awarded  to  exhibitors  from  abroad  was — gold,  2;  silver,  13;  bronze,  14. 


SALE  OF  DR.  LEGRAND'S  COLLECTION. 

HE  name  of  Dr  .Legrand  has  been  one  of  the  most  honoured  in  the 
annals  of  Philately  for  nearly  forty  years,  and  it  seems  a  sensible 
snapping  of  an  ancient  tie  to  announce  that  his  collection  should  be  placed 
on  the  market.  The  purchaser  is  AI.  Th.  Lemaire,  of  Paris,  and  we  believe 
that  the  sum  paid  will  be  found  to  be  within  a  measurable  distance  of 
"  300,000  francs."  Although  the  collection  had  not  been  kept  up  to  the 
modern  standard,  it  was,  however,  replete  with  fine  and  rare  stamps,  many 
of  which  could  hardly  be  duplicated,  and  must  have  been  well  worth  the 
price  paid.  The  Doctor,  as  was  well  known,  had  two  of  the  Post  Office 
Mauritius,  one  being  unused,  and  these  have  been  already  purchased  by 
M.  J.  Bernichon,  of  Paris,  for  48,000  francs,  equal  ;^I920 !  This  price  is 
indeed  a  record,  but  will  not  come  as  a  shock  to  Mr.  W.  B.  Avery,  the 
holder  of  the  matchless  pair  of  unused  that  were  on  view  in  Piccadilly 
last  summer.  The  Plates  of  Mauritius  of  Dr.  Legrand's  were  also  very 
fine,  and  he  also  possessed  (we  believe)  the  5  and  ist  13  cent  of  Hawaii. 
In  the  early  Guianas  he  was  not  strong,  but  all  the  standard  rarities  of 
other  countries  were  naturally  present,  and  his  collection  as  a  whole  was 
of  the  greatest  interest ;  it  included  no  less  than  forty  volumes  of  entires. 
We  are  informed  that  Dr.  Legrand  still  has  his  French  stamps,  and  a 
very  large  and  complete  collection  of  fiscals. 


SURCHARGES  A   L' ORIENTAL. 


M 


HE  following  letter,  containing  stamps,  value  (i*)  251   marks,  has  been 

received  by  a  well-known  collector: 

"Constantinople,  27.9.97. 

"  I  permit  to  send  you  within  a  sellection  of  good  oriental  stamps  which  I  wisch 
exchange  against  other  good  ones  of  England  here  Colonies  and  U.  S  of  Amerika 
and  think  you  will  bee  so  kindly  to  accept  my  offer. 

"Waiting  your  sellection  I  remain  yours  truly,  "  K.  Lehner." 

The  interesting  "  sellection "  included  sets  of  Turkish  provisionals 
bisected  and  surcharged,  sets  of  the  1891  issue  overprinted  impriine  in  a 
rectangle,  Italian  stamps  with  "  Colonia  Eritrea"  and  "  Estero,"  Austrian- 
Italy  with  the  Constantinople  imprint,  German  and  Russian  Levant, 
Bulgaria  3  on  10  and  15  on  25,  and  Cyprus  halfpenny  provisionals.  On 
entires  also  were  the  40  paras  on  the  id.  of  British  Levant  and  the  blue 
Ionian  "on  original."  Irrespective  of  other  little  peculiarities  on  the  latter  the 
cover  had  been  pierced  in  places  by  a  sharp  knife,  as  is  frequently  done  for 


OCCASIONAL  NOTES.  291 

the  purpose  of  disinfection,  but  with  an  attention  to  Philatelic  interests  that 
must  have  been  rarely  noticeable  at  the  hands  of  Oriental  officials  thirty- 
years  since,  the  stamp  must  have  been  removed  in  order  to  avoid  injury 
and  then  replaced,  as  the  punctures  penetrate  the  paper  behind  the  stamp, 
leaving  the  latter  untouched.  Our  general  acquaintance  with  punctures  has 
much  improved  since  the  days  of  cycledom,  but  this  is  a  variety  that  we  have 
not  yet  met  with,  and  seems — like  its  owner's  good  faith — difficult  to  mend  ! 
The  whole  of  the  stamps  we  have  mentioned,  being  the  main  portion  of  the 
"sellection,"  have  forged  surcharges,  and  we  thought  it  advisable  to  warn 
collectors  who  might  wish  to  exchange  with  Mr.  Lehner.  It  may  be  that  he 
is  young  and  innocent,  in  which  case  he  should  be  indebted  to  us  for  giving 
him  of  our  knowledge  ;  but  unless  he  is  able  to  give  good  evidence  of  his 
guilelessness,  we  think  the  return  of  his  stamps  unpaid,  with  "forgery"  written 
across  them,  "  would  about  meet  the  merits  of  the  case,"  as  the  Mikado  airily 
remarks. 


A    NEW  ALBUM   FOR    BRAZIL. 

E    have    received    from   Mr.   Alph    Bruck   an    album    which   has    been 
designed   to  meet  the  requirements  of  those  who   specialize   in   this 


country,  seemingly  well  adapted  to  its  purpose.  We  hope  that  the  enter- 
prise of  the  author  may  lead  many  to  add  this  interesting  country  to  their 
specialistic  tendencies.  It  will  be  remembered  that  Mr.  Bruck  exhibited  a 
fine  collection  of  Brazil  at  the  London  Exhibition,  gaining  a  silver  medal. 


SALE   OF  MR.    IV.    W.   BLEST' S  AUSTRALIAN  COLLECTION. 


HIS  choice  and  renowned  collection  has  gone  the  way  of  nearly  all 
Philatelic  flesh,  and  has  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  trade. 
Mr.  W.  H.  Peckitt  is  the  purchaser,  at  a  price,  it  is  understood,  of  some 
^5000,  and  we  congratulate  him  upon  securing  so  fine  a  lot  of  stamps, 
from  which  he  cannot  fail  ultimately  to  reap  a  substantial  harvest. 

Mr.  Blest  is  hardly  one  of  the  old  school,  but  has  been  an  ardent  collector 
for  the  past  ten  or  twelve  years ;  and,  like  many  others,  became  "  bitten  " 
through  arranging  some  stamps  for  juvenile  friends.  The  history  of  his 
collection  presents  the  now  accustomed  feature  of  an  initial  struggle  to  be  a 
general  collector,  and  a  subsequent  desperate  effort  to  be  first  in  the  countries 
that  he  specializes  in.  In  this  laudable  ambition  it  may  be  said  that  Mr. 
Blest  met  with  a  marked  degree  of  success,  as  evidenced  by  his  medals  at 
the  Philatelic  Exhibition  of  1897.  At  difi"erent  intervals  Mr.  Blest  had 
previously  parted  with  his  English  Colonies  (which  went  en  bloc  to  another 
collector,  and  are  hence  happily  intact),  his  West  Indians,  including  a  superb 
lot  of  Trinidads,  and  his  Europeans.  The  writer  had  the  felicity  to  acquire 
some  of  the  latter,  but  not  a  superb  3  lire  Tuscany,  with  light  town  oblitera- 
tions, which  he  considered  too  much  in  advance  of  the  market  at  a  little  over 
^20 !  Neither  buyer  nor  seller  would  entertain  this  objection  to-day,  and  it 
is  probable  that  among  all  Mr.  Blest's  departed  stamps,  none  would  have 
repaid  a  longer  holding  better  than  his  Europeans.     In  any  case,  Mr.  Blest 


292  OCCASIONAL  NOTES. 

will,  we  fancy,  not  be  long  before  returning  to  the  ardours  of  the  Philatelic 
chase,  and  he  might  do  worse  than  take  up  some  group  of  the  last-named. 

The  collection  was  on  view  at  the  London  Exhibition,  and  was  well 
described  in  the  official  Catalogue  ;  but  for  the  benefit  of  those  of  our  readers 
who  were  not  present,  we  give  a  list  of  some  of  the  finest  stamps,  premising 
that  almost  all  were  in  magnificent  condition  and  tmuscd,  except  where  other- 
wise stated. 

NEW  SOUTH    WALES. 

UNUSED. 

Sydney   Views— id.,    Plate   I.,  7  ;  Plate   II.,  8;    2d.,   Plate  I.,   4;    Plate  11.,  9 ; 

Plate  III.,  I  ;  Plate  IV.,  4;  Plate  V.,  3;  3d.,  4. 
Altogether  about  fifty  copies,  including  one  specimen  of  the  latter  in  absolutely  mint 
co7idition. 

Laureated — Strong  in  unused,  including  id.,  on  laid  paper,  2  ;  id.,  error  "wale," 
and  3d.,  error  "  wages";  2d.,  stars  in  corners,  3. 

1853,  re-engraved,  background  of  crossed  lines,  2d.,  full  blue,  3. 
1852,  3d.,  yellow-green,  green,  emerald-green,  and  deep  blue-green, 
do.    6d.,  brown,  Plate  I.,  fine  background,  2. 
do.    6d.,  pale-brown,  Plate  II.,  coarse  background,  2. 
1885,  8d.,  orange;  the  3d.,  with  error,  watermark  "  2." 
Diadem  Issue — 2d.,  with  wmk.  "  5." 

1855,  8d.,  imperf.,  a  pair  and  a  single,  the  pair  being  used ;  also  the  6d.  and 

IS.,  with  wmk.  "8." 
do.    Perf.     12,    the    series   complete;    including   3d.,    yellow-green;    6d., 
purple;  8d.,  orange;  is.,  brick-red;  5s.,  purple  ;  also  the  6d.,  purple, 
with  error,  wmk.  "  5s." 
A  block  of  ten  imperf.  registered  stamps. 
The  used  stamps  include  over  200  copies  of  the  Sydneys,  all  picked  copies. 

NEW  ZEALAND. 

First  Issue — London  print,  id.,  3;  2d.,  i  ;  is.,  3. 
do.  do.      bleute,  2d.,  i. 

do.  Colonial  print  (blue  paper),  id.,  5  ;  2d.,  jair  and  strips  of  3  and  4; 

IS.,  2. 

Thick  paper,  is.,  imperf,  seven  copies  in  shades. 

Thick  paper,  perf.  13,  2d.,  blue,  2. 

Wmk.  Star,  imperf,  2d.,  slate-blue,  2  ;  3d.,  mauve. 

Pelure  paper,  id.,  2d.,  and  is.,  imperf.;  2d.,  6d.,  and  is.,  perf.,  more  than  one  of 

each;  also  the  id.,  vermilion,  perf.  13  (used). 
Wmk.  "NZ,"  imperf,  6d.,  3. 
Wmk.  Star,  perf.  13,  3d.,  brown-lilac,  3. 

do.         perf.  10  X  12-^,  6d.,  blue. 
Wmk.  "N  Z,"  perf.,  id.,  brown,  two  used  copies. 
Halfpenny,  wmk.  "NZ,"  perf.  12^x10;   also  a  copy  of  the  same  stamp  with 

no  wmk. 
Issue  of  1873,  2d.,  rose,  perf.  10  x  i2i. 

Among  the  used  stamps — London  print,  id.,  six  copies;  thick  paper,  is.,  pairs  in 
shade;  blue  paper,  id.,  strip  of  five;  a  copy  of  2d.  with  value  omitted. 


OCCASIONAL  NOTES.  293 

QUEENSLAND. 
Imperf.,  id.,  4;  2d.,  unused,  strip  of  three,  and  single  copies,  also  used  single 

copies,  including  two  pairs,  6d.,  3. 
1860-1. — Star  wmk.,  rough  perf.,  the  2d.,  imperf.  horizontally,  and  several  copies 

of  the  IS.,  unused. 
1868-74. — Truncated  Star  wmk.,  perf   12,  6d.,  dark  green,  strip  of  three;    is., 

claret,  several  copies. 

♦ 

AUSTRALIAN  NOTES. 

BY   OUR    SPECIAL   CORRESPONDENT. 


m 


FTER   being  on   sale   for  upwards   of  two  years,  the   uncancelled    re- 
mainders of  the  O.S.  stamps  of  New  South  Wales  have  been  with- 
drawn from  sale,  and  the  whole  remaining  stock  destroyed. 
The  following  is  the  official  notice : 

[1701]  "Postal  and  Electric  Telegraph  Department, 

"General  Post  Office,  Sydney, 

"20th  August,   1897. 

"  His  Excellency  the  Governor,  with  the  advice  of  the  Executive  Council,  has 
been  pleased  to  approve  of  the  sale  of  O.S.  Postage  Stamps  (which,  in  accordance 
with  authority  given  in  July,  1895,  have  hitherto  been  sold  to  the  public,  on  the 
understanding  that  they  are  not  to  be  used  for  purposes  of  ordinary  postage)  being 
discontinued ;  and  such  stamps  will  therefore  be  withdrawn  from  sale  from  the 
ist  proximo.  "Joseph  Cook." 

This  is  the  last  chapter  in  the  history  of  the  O.S.  stamps  of  New  South 

Wales,  as  there  are  now  neither  reprints,  remainders,  nor  any  other  class 

of   the   official   stamps   in   existence   so   far  as  the   Postal   Department   is 

concerned. 

******** 

In  accordance  with  the  decision  to  adopt  the  Record  Reign  types  of 
id.  and  2d.  stamps  for  post  cards,  envelopes,  and  wrappers,  the  following 
notice  has  been  published  in  the  Gazette: 

[1703]  "Postal  and  Electric  Telegraph  Department, 

"General  Post  Office,  Sydney, 
"  izth  August,  1897. 

"  His  Excellency  the  Governor,  with  the  advice  of  the  Executive  Council,  has, 
in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  7th  section  of  the  Postage  Acts  Amendment 
Act,  1893,  been  pleased  to  approve  of  the  issue,  in  substitution  of  those  now  current, 
of  id.  (single)  and  id.  +  id.  (reply)  post  cards,  id.  stamped  envelopes,  id.  wrappers, 
and  2d.  stamped  envelopes  bearing  stamps  of  similar  values,  of  the  designs  recently 
issued  in  commemoration  of  Her  Majesty's  Record  Reign. 

"Joseph  Cook." 

The  id.  (single)  Inland  and  Intercolonial  card  has  just  been  issued. 
The  stamp  is  of  the  type  of  the  id.  adhesive  of  the  22nd  June,  1897,  and 
the  inscriptions,  etc.,  are  the  same  as  those  of  the  previous  card.  I  send 
you  a  specimen  for  description  in  your  chronicle  of  new  issues. 


7o« 


294  OCCASIONAL  NOTES. 


DEATH  OF  MR.  HASTINGS  E.  WRIGHT. 
T  is  with  the  deepest  regret  that  we  have  to  record  the  sad  and 
unexpected  decease  of  this  well-known  Philatelist  and  member 
of  the  London  Philatelic  Society.  It  would  appear  that  Mr.  Wright 
fell  a  victim  to  the  dread  scourge  of  influenza  that  has  claimed  so  many 
useful  lives,  having  had  a  bad  attack  early  in  September.  He  had, 
however,  recovered,  and  on  the  23rd  of  September  was  in  London  in 
apparently  fairly  good  health  ;  but,  not  feeling  really  well,  he  returned 
home,  where,  however,  he  rapidly  became  worse,  developing  pneumonia, 
and  breaking  a  blood-vessel  in  the  brain,  passed  away  three  days  later, 
on  Sunday  evening,  the  30th  September.  Mr.  Hastings  Edwin  Wright 
was  born  on  the  25th  of  June,  1861,  and  was  consequently  but  36  years 
of  age  at  his  lamented  death.  Although  possessed  of  independent 
means,  he  was  a  civil  engineer,  and  had  by  no  means  retired  from  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  in  following  which  he  had  spent  several  years  in 
India.  He  leaves  a  widow  and  four  children  to  deplore  his  loss,  to  whom 
we  beg  to  offer  our  deepest  sympathies  in  their  great  bereavement. 

Mr.  Hastings  Wright  joined  the  Philatelic  Society  in  1891,  and 
rapidly  acquired  a  reputation  as  a  Philatelist  of  no  mean  order.  His 
contributions  to  the  London  Philatelist  and  other  journals  are  well 
known  as  being  marked  by  scientific  and  accurate  work,  but  his  inag- 
nuvi  opus  will  always  be  the  work  on  the  Stamps  of  Great  Britain,  on 
which,  in  conjunction  with  Mr.  A.  B.  Creeke,  he  had  been  engaged  for 
some  years.  A  large  portion  of  this  task  has  been  completed  and 
finally  passed  by  Mr.  Wright ;  and  we  are  informed  that  as  regards 
the  remainder,  the  voluminous  notes  left  by  him  will  enable  the 
book  to  be  completed  within  a  short  period.  It  is,  however,  very  sad 
to  think  that  the  honour  of  his  share  of  this  important  work  will  be 
entirely  posthumous.  We  are,  however,  convinced  that  when  it  does 
appear  it  will  constitute  an  abiding  monument  to  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  Philatelic  authors. 

As  a  collector  Mr.  Hastings  Wright  will  always  be  remembered  as 
the  pioneer  of  mint  condition.  Absolutely  scrupulous  as  to  the  selection 
of  every  specimen,  his  collection  contained  no  stamp  that  was  not  fault- 
less. With  an  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  leading  collections  during 
the  past  twenty  years,  the  inspection  of  Mr.  Wright's  collection  of  the 
stamps  of  Great  Britain  yet  came  as  a  revelation  to  the  writer  as  to 
what  constitutes  mint  condition.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  no  collection 
ever  yet  formed  was  so  absolutely  irreproachable  as  Mr.  Wright's 
English  collection  which  was  dispersed  some  three  years  since.  In  other 
fields  in  which  he  became  interested  later  the  same  discrimination  was 
exercised,  and  the  creed  of  immaculate  condition  may  have  been  said 
to  have  been  created  in  this  country  by  Mr.  Wright's  example. 
Amiable  and  courteous  in  all  his  relations  of  life,  ever  ready  to  give 
the  benefit  of  his  advice,  and  possessed  of  profound  Philatelic  insight, 
the  death  of  Mr.  Hastings  Wright  leaves  a  void  that  cannot  be  filled, 
and  has  called  forth  the  keenest  regret  from  all  sections  of  the 
Philatelic  world. 


[     295     ] 


S^^to  |ssius. 


NOTES    OF    NE^A^,    AND    VARIATIONS  OF   CURRENT,    ISSUES. 
(Varieties  of  Obsolete  Stamps,  and  Discoveries,  will  be  found  under  "Philatelic  Notes.") 

JVe  do  not  profess  to  chi-oiiicle  everything,  but,  with  the  kijid  help  of  correspondents,  are  desirous  that 
all  the  important  novelties  may  be  included.  Speculative  stamps — i.e.  those  not  really  required  for 
postal  purposes — will  be  considered  on  their  merits,  and  Jubilee  issues  will  not  be  chronicled. 

Members  of  the  London  Philatelic  Society,  and  other  readers  generally,  are  invited  to  co-operate  with  us 
in  making  the  columns  as  interesting  as  possible.  Our  foreign  readers  can  especially  help  us  in 
this  direction,  by  sending  copies  of  any  official  documents  relative  to  changes  in  the  current  issues, 
or  early  intirnation  of  any  new  issue,  accompanied,  when  possible,  by  a  specimen  ;  such  information 
will  be  duly  credited  to  the  correspondent ,  and,  if  desired,  the  specimen  promptly  returned. 
Add7-ess:   EDITOR  "LONDON  PHILATELIST,"  EFFINGHAM  HoUSE,  ArUNDEL  StREET,  StRAND, 

London,  W.C. 


BRITISH    EMPIRE. 

British  South  Africa.  —  The  an- 
nouncement that  the  proposed  commemo- 
rative stamps  alluded  to  last  month  are  not 
to  be  issued  will  be  received  with  pleasure. 
We  are  indebted  to  a  correspondent  for  this 
information,  which  has  been  received  from 
an  influential  source. 

Gambia. — The  sixpenny  stamp  has  been 
issued  in  a  new  shade — pale  green  in  place 
of  sage-green. 

Adhesive.     6d.,  pale  green, 

Labuan. — In  our  advertisement  columns 
will  be  found  illustrations  of  the  "errors" 
described  on  pages  241  and  242;  also  of  the 
corrected  dies,  the  stamps  from  which  are 
to  be  issued  in  November  next.  From 
these  illustrations  the  alterations  that  have 
been  effected  will  be  plain  without  any 
further  description.  The  colours  of  both 
issues  are  to  remain  as  before. 

A  dhesives. 
18  c,  black  on  deep  green  and  black.     Altered  die. 
24  c.,  black  on  dull  lake  and  blue.  ,, 

India.  —  Btindi.  —  Herewith  are  given 
illustrations  and  description  of  the  various 
issues  for  this  Native  State,  which  is  situated 
in  Rajputana,  and  of  which  no  mention  has 
heretofore  been  made  in  our  columns. 


II. 


We  learn  from  the  Monthly  Jourtml 
that  illustration  I.  represents  the  first  issue 
(i  anna),  which  is  printed  on  wove  paper, 
the  sheet  consisting  of  140  varieties, 
arranged  in  14  horizontal  rows  of  10  stamps. 
Illustration  II.  is  that  of  the  second  edition 
(5  anna),  on  laid  paper,  with  a  watermark, 
"a  portrait  of  a  gentleman  in  a  tall  hat,  and 
with  a  bouquet  of  flowers  in  his  hand,  and 
an  inscription  in  three  lines,"  there  being 
168  varieties,  arranged  in  two  panes,  each 
consisting  of  12  horizontal  rows  of  7.  The 
above  were  issued  in  1896. 

Five  new  values  of  the  latter  type  have 
just  made  their  appearance,  and  as  these 
contain  8  annas  and  i  rupee  values,  we  fear 
that  the  comment  of  our  contemporary  on 
the  differences  between  the  Postal  and 
Philatelic  requirements  is  amply  justified. 
Here  are  illustrations  of  the  new  values. 


^i^syjasrxm 


4  annas 


8  annas. 


296 


NEW  ISSUES. 


I  rupee. 

AdJiesivcs. 
J  anna,  grey-blue ;  wove  paper  ;  imperf. 
\      1.      grey ;  laid  paper. 

1  „     red;  laid  paper ;  imperf.;  120  varieties. 

2  annas,  green      ,,  ,,  ,, 

4      n  )>  n  )>  It 

8     „       red  „  „  104    ,, 

I  rupee,  yellow  on  blue;  laid  paper;  imperf. ;  104  varieties  (?). 

Charhari.  —  The  annexed  illustration  is 
that  of  the  stamps  described  on  page  98. 
In  addition  to  the  varieties  given  there,  a 
second  plate  is  said  to  exist  with  an  "s" 
at  the  end  of  "anna,"  there  is  also  some 
new  stationery. 


g  2  ANNA  b 
POSTAGE  STAMP 


Adhesive!.    J  anna,  purple. 
I  annas,  green. 


EnveloJ>es.    i  annas,  purple -v  ^^^;^  ^,^.^^  laid Mfer 
I  anna,  green     \  ,40  x78  mm. 

I  annas,  green  / 

Post  Card.    J  anna,  rose-lilac  on  huff  laid,  1 26  X  78  mm. 

Cochin. — From  the  same  source  we  also 
learn  that  the  \  and  2  puttan  stamps  are  now 
printed  on  wove  paper,  with  the  usual  wmk. 

Adhesives.     J  puttan,  orange. 
2       ,,       purple. 

Diiitia. — These  are  the  types  of  the 
stamps   described    on    page    98,   the    third 


illustration  being  that  of  the  Maharajah's 
circular  seal  used  to  give  the  stamps  a 
postal  value.  The  Monthly  Journal,  to 
which  contemporary  we  are  indebted  for 
all  our  information,  describes  the  i  anna 
printed  in  black  in  place  of  red. 

Adhesive,     i  anna,  black. 

Las  Bela. — In  our  July  issue  we  stated 
that  no  mention  of  this  State  could  be 
found  on  the  map.  A  correspondent  of  the 
Monthly  Journal  informs  us  that  it  is 
a  portion  of  South-Eastern  Beluchistan, 
bounded  on  the  east  by  Sind,  on  the  south 
by  the  Arabian  Sea,  and  on  the  north  and 
west  by  Beluchistan.  It  rejoices  in  a  ruler 
named  "  Jam  of  Las  Bela." 

Natal.  The  sixpenny  stamp  is  current 
in   a  new  shade,   which   the   M.  J.   terms 

9nagenta. 

Adhesive.     6d.,  magenta. 

New  South  Wales.— We  have  received 
a  copy  of  the  post  cards  referred  to  by  our 
Australian  correspondent  last  month,  with 
the  commemorative  stamp  of  id.  impressed 
thereon.  The  additional  inscriptions  are — 
"New  South  Wales"  on  a  scroll;  above 
the  words  "POST  card,"  with  the  Arms 
between  the  two  words  ;  underneath  all  of 
which,  in  a  single  line,  is  the  usual  inscrip- 
tion, "the  address  only  to  be  written 


ON    THIS    SIDE." 
measures  140  x  8 

Post  Card. 


The  card  is   thick,   and 
mm. 

id.,  carmine,  on  strazv. 

New  Zealand.— a  new  perforation  of 
the  4d.  stamp. 

Adhesive.     4d.,  sea-green, /^^/I  loXii. 

Niger  Coast  Protectorate. — We  hear 
that  the  remaining  values  of  the  current  set 
are  now  in  use  with  the  CA  wmk. 

Adhesives.     2^d.,  blue,  w»ii.  CA. 
5d.,  purple  ,, 

IS.,  black  ,, 

North  Borneo.— The  remarks  under 
Labuan  apply  here. 

Adhesives.     i8  c,  deep  green  and  black  (altered die). 
24  c,  dull  lake  and  blue  ,,         ,, 

Queensland. — From  various  sources  we 
learn  that  the  following  alterations  are 
imminent : 

2^d.,  present  issue,  to  be  printed  in  violet- 
brown,  [The  reason  for  which  change  is 
inexplicable.  Is  not  this  the  colour,  or 
nearly  so,  of  the  5d.  stamp?] 

3d.,  figures  in  each  corner;  colour,  medium 
brown. 


NEW  ISSUES. 


297 


4d.,  figures  in  each  corner ;  colour,  orange- 
yellow. 

6d.,  figures  in  each  comer  ;  colour,  green. 
IS.         „  „  „  „     mauve. 


))  )) 


Uganda.— Following  the  information  re- 
garding the  "cowrie"  stamps  contained  in 
our  August  issue,  we  herewith  reproduce  a 
copy  of  the  following  Official  Notice,  which 
gives  the  rates  of  postage,  etc.,  for  which  we 
are  indebted  to  the  M.  J.  The  stamps 
paying  the  postage  for  the  mails  are  illus- 
trated on  pages  170  and  171. 

"  Uganda  Protectorate. 

"  Notice  is  hereby  given  that  from  and  after 
1st  May,  1897,  the  following  scale  of  charges 
will  be  made  for  the  conveyance  of  Postal  Matter 
by  the  Government  Mail : 

"  Between   Stations  in   any  two   districts   in   the 
Protectorate. 

Letters  .         .     3  annas  each  per  oz. 

Newspapers  .     i      „         „        6  oz. 

Books  and  Parcels     8     „     per  lb. 

"  Uganda  District  Local  Mail  (to  include  Lubals 
for  Postal  Purposes). 

Letters  .         ,     2  annas  each  per  oz. 

Newspapers  .     I      „  „         8  oz. 

Books  and  Parcels     3     „      per  lb. 

Coast  Mail. 

"  From    Stations    in    Uganda,    Bunyoro,    Toro, 
Usoga,  and  Kavirondo  to  Kikuyu. 

Letters  .         ,     4  annas  each  per  oz. 

Newspapers  .     I      „  „         4  oz. 

Books  and  Parcels     I  rupee  per  lb. 

"  From  Stations  in  the  Mau  District  to  Kikuyu. 

Letters         .         .     3  annas  each  per  oz. 
Newspapers  .     I      „  „         6  oz. 

Books  and  Parcels     8     „      per  lb. 

"  In  all  the  above  cases  similar  rates  will  be 
charged  for  the  Up-Mails. 

"  No  parcel  will  be  taken  which  exceeds  eleven 
pounds  in  weight. 

"  (Signed)        Trevor  Ternan, 

"  H.!\I.  Acting-Comviissioner  and  Consul-Geiicral." 

EUROPE. 

Austria. — A  fresh  set  of  stamps  with  the 
new  coinage  denominations  will  be  issued  at 
the  beginning  of  the  year,  on  similar  lines 
with  those  of  the  Hungarian  kingdom  re- 
ferred to  in  this  number. 

The  /.  B.  J.  describes  a  new  post  card 
which  has  inscriptions  in  German,  Ruthenian, 
and  Polish. 

Post  Card.     2  kr  ,  brown. 


Belgium. — A  card  of  a  novel  and  highly 
useful  character  was  issued  on  ist  June  last, 
by  which  a  receipt  from  the  addressee  may 
be  obtained  for  a  package  sent  through  the 
post.  On  the  face  of  the  card  is  written  the 
address  of  the  sender,  and  on  the  back  the 
contents  ;  to  be  signed  for  by  the  receiver, 
and  posted. 

Return  Receipt  Card.     10  c,  green  on  biiff. 

Germany. — We  understand  that  in  No- 
vember next  Letter  Cards  will  be  introduced 
into  the  German  Empire,  a  step  which  will 
find  much  favour  with  all. 

Hungary. — Collectors  of  this  interesting 
country,  free  from  the  contamination  of  pro- 
visional and  speculative  issues,  will  welcome 
the  announcement  that  a  change  is  to  be 
made  in  the  present  stamps,  which  have 
done  duty  for  ten  years  past.  The  values  of 
the  new  stamps  will  be  in  Krone  and  Heller, 
by  which  means  the  currency  will  be  made 
equivalent  to  that  of  Germany,  as  i  krone  = 
I  mark=  loo  pfennige,  or  loo  heller. 

The  plates  of  the  new  stamps  are  said  to 
be  ready,  and  the  values  are  2,  4,  6,  10,  20, 
30,  48,  and  60  Heller,  bearing  the  design  of 
Hungarian  Coat  of  Arms,  flanked  by  figures 
of  value  on  either  side  ;  and  i,  2,  and  4 
Krone  with  Coat  of  Arms,  supported  by 
angels.  The  three  latter  values  will  be  of 
large  size,  and  the  impressions  bicoloured 
throughout. 

Monaco. — The  alteration  of  colours,  which 
has  been  going  on  for  some  time,  has  been 
effected  throughout  the  whole  series,  the 
colours  being  of  a  deeper  and  brighter  shade. 
The  historic  75  c.  also  has  been  reissued, 
only  in  a  new  colour — red-brown. 

Adhesive.     75  c,  red-brown. 

San  Marino. — The  record  of  this  puny 
Republic  as  regards  speculative  issues  has 
been  in  direct  contrast  with  its  dimensions. 
Writing  from  San  Marino  to  Dcr  Philatelist 
Herr  A.  Chelius  states  that  the  so-called 
unpaid  letter  stamps,  issued  this  year,  in 
no  way  fulfil  their  supposed  mission,  as  he 
has  frequently  verified  by  the  receipt  of 
insufficiently  prepaid  letters,  on  none  of 
which  have  these  labels  been  placed.  He 
adds  that  they  are  really  Fiscal  stamps, 
having  no  postal  character  whatever.  It  is 
pleasing  also  to  read  that  the  three  Jubilee 
Stamps,  and  the  post  card  of  1897,  can 
still  be  supplied  in  large  quantities,  and 
that  on  taking  500  sets  half  the  face  value 


298 


NEW  ISSUES. 


will  be  charged !  He  further  adds  that  the 
10  c,  green,  which  is  quoted  at  about  one 
shilling  in  the  catalogues,  is  still  in  use,  and, 
with  a  very  short  interval,  has  been  on  sale 
for  many  years. 

AMERICA. 

Bolivia. — The  annexed  illustration  is  that 
of  the  I  boliviano  value  of  the  new  issue. 
The  2  bolivianos   has  the  "Arms"  of  the 


Republic,  and  printed  in  red,  yellow,  and 
green  makes  a  handsome,  but  gaudy,  stamp. 
We  were  in  error  in  describing  the  colour 
of  this  latter  value  as  black. 

Chili. — We  have  omitted  to  mention  two 
new  letter  cards  which  have  been  issued — 
one  of  2  c.  and  the  other  of  5  c.  The 
lower  value  is  intended  for  departmental 
use  only.  Blue  ruling  is  inside  the  cards, 
and  both  were  prepared  by  the  American 
Bank  Note  Company  of  New  York.  The 
Return  Receipt  Stamp  also  has  undergone  an 
alteration.  In  place  of  the  letters  "A.  R." 
at  base,  the  words  "Avis  de  Paiement"  are 
inserted,  and  the  stamp  is  now  issued  in 
black. 

Return  Receipt  Stamp.     5  c,  black,  ttew  type. 
Letter  Cards.    2  c,  carmine  on  rose,  130x80  mm. 
5  c.       ,,         ,,      white,  139X91  mm. 

Ecuador. — We  illustrate  the  new  issue, 
and  add  to  the  values  given  last  month. 


Adhesivcs.  20  c,  yellow. 

50  c. ,  ultramarine. 
I  Sucre,  bistre. 
5      i>      "lac. 

Honduras.— Z^  Moniteiir  de  VEmpv-e 
announces  that  the  powers  of  the  great 
Republic  of  Central  America,  which  is  com- 


posed at  present  of  Honduras,  Nicaragua, 
and  San  Salvador,  signed  on  the  15th  June 
last,  in  the  town  of  Guatemala,  with  the 
representatives  of  Costa  Rica  and  Guate- 
mala, a  document  by  which  the  five  States 
mentioned  will  be  henceforth  known  as  one 
Republic,  under  the  name  of  the  Republic 
of  Central  America.  The  document  was  to 
be  approved  by  the  Parliaments  of  the 
different  States  on  1 5th  September  last. 

Should  this  Federation  become  approved, 
it  is  probable  that  one  series  of  stamps 
will  be  supplied  throughout  the  Republic  of 
Central  America,  with  a  consequent  diminu- 
tion of  Seebeck  remainders,  and  a  commen- 
surate increase  of  Philatelic  purity. 

Mexico. — A  letter  card  has  been  issued 
of  thin  white  laid  paper,  containing  inside 
four  pages  of  similar  paper  for  the  com- 
munication, the  whole  being  wired  together. 
This  is  a  sensible  and  valuable  addition  to 
postal  stationery,  which  our  own  authorities 
would  do  well  to  imitate. 

Letter  Card. 
4  c,  blue  and  orange  on  white  laid,  135  x90  mm. 

Peru.— Messrs.  Whitfield  King  and  Co. 
send  us  a  provisional  post  card  of  2  c.  on 
5  c.  The  surcharge  is  the  same  as  that 
made  in  1893,  except  for  a  difference  in 
the  numeral  "  2."  The  5  c.  adhesive  has 
changed  its  colour  from  indigo  to  green, 
and  the  5  and  10  c.  unpaid  stamps  have 
been  surcharged  obliquely  "  deficit." 

Adhesive.     5  c,  green. 
Unpaid  Letter  Stamps.     5  c,  vermilion,  black  surcharge. 
IOC,  orange  ,,  ,, 

Post  Card. 
2  c.  on  5  c,  blue  surcharge  on  black,  on  buff. 

United  States. — The  following  cutting 
from  Mckeel's  Weekly  would  show  that  there 
is  likely  to  be  a  change  in  at  least  two  of  the 
current  values  : 

"  Washington,  Sept.  14.— The  Secretary 
of  the  Treasury  and  the  Postmaster-General, 
after  consultation  with  the  President,  have 
decided  to  change  the  colour  of  the  current 
two-cent  postage  stamp  from  carmine  to 
green  of  the  shade  now  used  on  Govern- 
ment notes.  The  ten-cent  postage  stamp 
which  is  now  printed  in  green  will  be 
changed  to  some  other  colour,  possibly 
carmine. 

"  It  is  thought  that  the  green  is  a  more 
desirable  colour  than  carmine,  besides  saving 
the  Government  about  $i 0,000  in  the  differ- 
ence in  cost  between  the  two  inks." 


NEW  ISSUES. 


299 


OTHER  COUNTRIES. 

China. — We  are  enabled  this  month  to 
illustrate  a  set  of  the  new  Chinese  stamps 
issued  by  the  Imperial  Chinese  Post. 
Messrs.  Whitfield  King  &  Co.,  who  send 
us  the  stamps,  remark  :  "  The  new  set  was 
printed  in  Japan  ;  these  were  issued  on  the 
1st  inst.  Three  more  values,  $1,  $2,  and  $5, 
are  to  be  issued  later  on."  There  is  a  post 
card  of  one  cent,  a  copy  of  which  we  have 
also  received  from  the  same  source.  The 
abolishment  of  the  "  Local  Posts,"  conse- 
quent on  the  reorganization  of  the  Chinese 
Post,  will,  as  we  have  already  remarked,  put 
an  end  to  the  local  rubbish  which  has  been 


issued  in  the  past,  and  collectors  will  no 
doubt  welcome  what  to  all  evidence  is  a 
permanent  set  for  the  prepayment  of  genuine 
postal  matter ;  and  we  sincerely  trust  that 
these  stamps  will  be  kept  free  from  any 
disfiguring  surcharges  consequent  upon 
"  the  supply  at  the  Post  Office  running 
short." 

China  is  now  in  the  Postal  Union,  and  we 
annex  a  Notification  which  will  be  read  with 
interest. 

The  stamps  are  printed  on  thin  wove 
paper,  perf.  11^,  with  the  conch  shell 
watermark. 


Imperial  Chinese  Post. 

Notification  (Provisional)  No.  20. 

Mails. — On  and  after  the  2nd  February,  1897  (Kuang 
Hsu',  23rd  year,  ist  moon,  ist  day).  Mails  will  be  ex- 
changed by  every  opportunity  between  the  Post  Offices 
now  opened  at  the  undermentioned  places  in  China  : 

Amoy  Ichang  Shanghai 

Canton  Kiukiang  Shasi 

Chefoo  Kiungchow  Soochow 

Chinai  (Ningpo)  Lungchow  Swatow 

Chinkiang  Mengtsz  Szemao 

Chungking  Nanking  Taku  (Tientsin) 

Foochow  Newchwang  Tientsin 

Hangchow  Ningpo  Wenchow 

Hankow  Pagoda  Anchorage    Whampoa 

Hoihow  (Kiung-  (Foochow)  Woosung 

chow)  Pakhoi  Wuhu 

Hokow  Peking 

Also  with  Hong  Kong,  Macao,  and  Formosa. 

Supplementary  Mails,  duly  advertised,  will  be  made  up  at 
the  different  Post  Offices  to  suit  local  requirements. 

Rates  of  Postage. — The  Domestic  Rates  of  Postage 
are  as  follow : 

Letters :  for  each  J  oz.  or  fraction  thereof,  2  cents. 
Newspapers :    posted   singly,   Chinese,  J  cent  each ; 

Foreign,    i    cent    each.      When    sent    in    packets, 

1  cent  per  2  oz.  or  fraction  thereof. 
Books,  Circulars,  Samples:  2  cents  per  20Z.  ;  patterns 

or  samples  not  to  exceed  8dz.  in  weight. 
Parcels:  10  cents  for  first  lb.,  and  5  cents  for  each 

succeeding  lb. 
Registration:  4  cents;  return  receipts  4  cents. 

Prepayment  is  compulsory.  During  the  winter,  when 
navigation  is  closed  by  Ice,  Mail  Matter  to  and  from 
Peking,  Tientsin  (Taku),  and  Newchwang  Is  subject  to 
the  Special  Tariff  and  Rules  under  which  the  Overland 
Service  is  conducted. 

Postage  Stamps. — The  Postage  Stamps  of  the  Imperial 
Post  are  of  the  following  denominations  : 

^  cent,  I  cent. 

2,  4,  5,  10,  20,  30,  50  cents. 

I,  2,  5  dollars. 
Domestic  Postcards,  i  cent. 

Business  Hours. — The  Imperial  Post  Offices  are  open 
for  the  transaction  of  public  business  on   weekdays  from 

8  a.m.   to  6  p.m.;  on  Sundays  and   Holidays,  from   8  to 

9  am. 

Deliveries.  — Delivery  of  Mall  Matter  will  take  place 
as  follows : 

8  a.m.,  10  a.m.,  noon  ;  2  p.m.,  4  p.m.,  and  6  p.m. 

(or  at  other  hours  to  suit  local  requirements).  Corre- 
spondence for  vessels  in  port  will,  as  a  rule,  be  sent  to  the 
agents,  but,  if  desired,  will  be  delivered  on  board  at  9  a.m. 
and  4  p.m.,  subject  to  alterations. 


300 


NEW  ISSUES. 


Private  Boxes, — Private  Boxes  may  be  rented  at  any 
Post  Office.  The  fee  is  lo  dollars  per  annum,  payable  in 
advance.  Boxholders  will  be  provided  gratis  with  an 
account-book,  and  a  special  account  may  be  opened  for 
the  transmission  to  Chinese  ports  of  certain  unstamped 
printed  matter  of  uniform  size  and  weight,  such  as  Market 
Reports,  Circulars,  Invitations,  Cards,  Bills,  &c.,  each  not 
exceeding  2  oz.  in  weight,  and  in  packets  of  not  less  than 
10,  the  postage — at  the  rate  of  i  cent  each — being  either 
payable  in  cash  or  charged  to  the  sender's  account,  which 
must  be  settled  monthly,  and,  as  a  rule,  no  information 
can  be  given  as  to  particulars  of  matter  or  charge  made  in 
the  account. 

Inquiries, — Inquiries  concerning  postal  business  must  be 
made  at  the  Post  Office  (Custom  House). 

Complaints, — All  complaints  and  representations  which 
cannot  be  adjusted  by  the  Postal  Officer  should  be  addressed 
to  the  Commissioner  of  Customs. 

By  Order  of  the  Inspector  General  of  Customs, 
H,  KopscH, 

Postal  Secretary, 
Inspectorate  General  of  Customs, 
Statistical  Department, 

Shanghai,  ^^th  January,  1897. 

Adhesives.     Half  cent,  red-brown. 

One  cent,  orange-yellow. 

Two  cents,  orange. 

Four    ,,       bistre-brown. 

Five     ,,      pink. 

Ten      ,,       deep  green. 

Twenty  cents,  lake. 

Thirty        ,,      carmine. 

Fifty         ,,      pale  green. 
Post  Card.    One  cent,  carmine  on  straw. 

Egyft.— Soitdan. — The  standing  of  the 
recent  issue — Egyptian  issues  surcharged 
"Soudan" — is  defended  by  a  correspond- 
ent of  Le    T.-P.,  who  writes  as  follows  : 

"These  surcharges  have  been  created  to 
meet  a  real  need,  the  entire  administration 
of  the  Soudan  being  completely  detached 
from  other  Egyptian  administrations.  The 
Soudan  is  governed  directly  and  entirely  by 
the  military  governor,  commander-in-chief 
of  the  army.  These  stamps  have  as  much 
right  to  exist  as  those  of  Finland  in  Russia 
or  Bosnia  in  Austria. 

"  I  believe  they  are  to  be  replaced  shortly, 
perhaps  after  the  campaign,  by  a  permanent 
issue  of  a  different  type. 

"  I  believe  that  you  have  a  bad  opinion  of 
the  administration  of  the  post  offices  here. 
They  are  among  the  best  established,  and 
a  very  good  point  in  favour  of  the  Director- 
General  is  that  he  has  absolutely  refused  to 
agree  to  any  carnival  stamps." 

The  Egyptian  labels  past  and  present  are 
of  blameless  repute  ;  we  trust  that  the  same 
may  be  said  of  the  recent  Soudan  incursion 
stamps. 

French  Colonies.— Comoro  Islands.— 
We  have  received  a  complete  set  in  the 
current    French    Colonial    type   for   use   on 


these  Islands,  which  are  off  the  east  coast 
of  Africa. 

Adhesives.     i  c,  black  on  azure;  name  in  red. 

2  c,  brown  on  bitjf  ,,  blue. 

4  c,  purple-brown  on ^r^y,,  blue. 

5  c,  green  on/a/£?^?-^^»    ,,  red. 
10  c,  black  on  lilac              ,,  blue. 
15  c,  blue                              ,,  red. 
20  c,  red  on_^rfi^»                 ,,  blue. 
25  c,  black  on  rose               ,,  red. 
30  c,  cinnamon  on  drab      ,,  blue. 
40  c. ,  red  on  jr/Zoiu               ,,  blue. 
50  c,  carmine  on  rose           ,,  blue. 
75  c,  black  on  orange          ,,  red. 

I  fr.,  olive-green  on  toned  ,,       red. 

Liberia. — We  illustrate  the  3  cents  stamp 
described  last  month. 


Orange  Free  State,— The  one  shilling 
value  is  now  printed  in  brown,  in  place  of 
orange. 

Adhesive,     is.,  brown. 

Philippine  Islands.— Certain  values  of 
the  current  issue  having  become  exhausted, 
some  of  the  obsolete  issues  were  surcharged 
with  an  upright  rectangular  frame,  in  the 
centre  of  which  is  the  value  in  numerals 
and  words,  and  "  Habilitado  Correos  Para 
1897"  around  the  four  sides  of  the  frame, 
Le  T.-P.  gives  the  following  surcharges 
created  : 

Adhesives.     5  c.  on  5  c,  green,  blue  surcharge. 

,,  ,,  ),         ^^o  ,] 

,,         ,,         ,,         black  ,, 

15  c.  on  15  c,  carmine     ,,  ,, 

,,        ,,     red-brown      „  ,, 

I,         ,,  ,,  blue  ,, 

20  c.  on  20  c,  violet,  black  ,, 

,,         ,,  bistre       „  ,, 

i<        ..  11       blue  ,, 

20  c.  on  25  c.         „       black  ,, 

Zanzibar  (French  P.O.). — The  annexed 
letter  from  Messrs.  Whitfield  King  &  Co., 
with  reference  to  the  recent  surcharges,  will 
speak  for  itself,  and  we  have  pleasure 
in  inserting  it.  Any  comments  made  by 
this  Journal  upon  issues  of  a  speculative 
tendency  are  made  in  the  interests  of 
all,  and  in  accordance  with  the  general 
desire  to  see  the  Philatelic  fold  kept  free 
from  the  ravages  of  the  glaringly  speculative 
and  unnecessary  issues  to  which  we  have 
been  treated  during-  twelve  months  past. 
We    had    no    intention    of    doubting    the 


NEW  ISSUES. 


30 1 


good  faith  contained  in  our  correspondents' 
letter  enclosing  specimens  of  the  surcharges 
alluded  to,  but  the  plentiful  supply  of 
provisionals  of  the  various  nationalities 
which  have  emanated  from  the  Island  of 
Zanzibar  has  aroused  in  the  minds  of  many 
a  feeling  of  doubt  which  is  perhaps  well 
merited.  We  feel  confident  that — although 
we  hear  not  only  from  Messrs.  Whitfield 
King,  but  several  other  well-known  firms, 
that  there  are  practically  no  specimens 
now  available  of  these  surcharges — in  the 
language  of  transpontine  drama,  "a  time 
will  come." 

"  In  describing  the  French  Zanzibar  pro- 
visionals in  your  last  issue  you  make  some 
remarks  which  we  consider  most  unfair,  and 
not  warranted  by  the  information  we  gave 
you.  You  state  that  the  French  Post  Office 
is  'probably  still  producing' the  provisionals, 
and  that  they  were  made  '  to  cope  with  the 
demand  for  the  supply  of  provisionals.'  So 
far  from  this  being  the  case,  the  information 
we  gave  you,  and  which  is  absolutely  reliable, 
is  that  the  stamps  were  only  issued  from 
July  25th  to  29th,  and  that  none  were  at  any 
time  sold  to  the  public,  but  only  affixed  to 
letters  presented  for  posting.  The  entire 
issue  was  only  1600  stamps,  which  used  up 
the  whole  of  the  stamps  in  the  office,  includ- 
ing the  borders,  and  all  were  legitimately 
used.  We  have  no  desire  to  defend  specu- 
lative or  unnecessary  issues,  and,  as  you 
know,  we  have  been  instrumental,  to  a 
greater  extent  than  any  other  firm  or  in- 
dividual, in  exposing  such,  but  we  honestly 
believe  this  particular  issue  of  provisionals 
to  have  been  absolutely  necessary  and  with- 
out the  slightest  element  of  speculation. 

"  We  are  entirely  disinterested  in  this 
question,  as,  with  the  exception  of  eight 
specimens   for  our  private   collection,   and 


which  are  not  for  sale,  we  have  not  suc- 
ceeded in  obtaining  any  of  these  stamps, 
nor  do  we  expect  to  have  any  for  sale.  The 
only  previous  issue  of  provisionals  by  the 
French  Post  Office  in  Zanzibar  was  a  very 
small  one  in  1894,  and  although  we  have  a 
dozen  correspondents  in  the  place,  we  have 
failed  to  obtain  a  single  specimen  of  that 
issue.  There  would  have  been  no  difficulty 
in  getting  either  the  1 894  or  1 897  provisionals 
had  they  been  a  speculative  issue,  but  we 
shall  be  very  glad  to  know  where  they  can 
be  had,  as  we  have  had  many  enquiries  for 
them. 

"  In  the  October  number  of  the  American 
Journal  of  Pliilately,*  the  Scott  Stamp  and 
Coin  Company  state  in  reference  to  these 
stamps :  '  We  are  reliably  informed  that  no 
speculative  intent  attached  to  the  issue  in 
question,  and  these  stamps  will  no  doubt 
become  among  the  rarest  French  pro- 
visionals.' In  this  opinion  we  fully  share, 
and  time  will  show  if  we  are  right  or  wrong." 

Through  the  courtesy  of  Mr.  L.  Upcott 
Gill  we  are  enabled  to  illustrate  both  the 
surcharges  and  permanent  stamps  chronicled 
last  month.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  larger 
block  illustrates  the  provisionals  type-set  on 
the  margins  of  the  sheets. 

*  Other  journals — e.g.   the   Monthly   Journal  and   the 
Tiinbre-Poste — seem,  however,  less  keen. — Ed, 


O-^ 


[        302        ] 


Uljilaltlk  Sntklics'  P^tttings. 


Secretaries  would  oblige  by  condensing  their  minutes  as  much  as  possible,  so  that  the  portion  published 
should  principally  contain  matters  of  public  intej-est.     All  reports  should  be  addressed  to — 

Me.  H.  M.  Gooch,  Effingham  House,  Arundel  Street,  London,  W.C. 


BIRMINGHAM   PHILATELIC  SOCIETY. 


Mr.  H.  R.  Bewi.ey. 
Mr.  p.  T.  Deakin. 


Honorary  President — W.  B.  AvERY,  Esq. 

President — W.  T.  Wilson,  Esq. 

Vice-Presidents — 

R.  HoLLiCK,  Esq.        |  W.  Pimm,  Esq. 

Committee — 

I  A[r.  V.  LUNDEBLAD.  I  Mr.  C.  A.  STEPHENSON. 

I         Mr.  T.  W.  Peck.  |         Mr.  W.  S.  Vaughton. 

Hon.  Sec.  and  Treas. — Mr.  G.  Johnson,  B.A., 

208,  Birchfietd  Road,  Birmingham. 


Annual  General  Business  Meeting. 

Oct.  7th. — The  officers  for  the  ensuing 
session  were  elected  as  above. 

The  accounts,  showing  a  cash  balance  in 
hand  of  ^51  is.  8d.,  were  audited,  found 
correct,  and  approved. 

The  election  of  the  following  members  was 
confirmed  :  Messrs.  H.  Fiacre  (Bavaria), 
A.  Buxton  (Manchester),  J.  Steele-Higgins 
(Manchester),  C.  E.  Osborn  (U.S.A.),  H.  W. 
Plumridge  (London),  G.  Rourke  (N.S.W.). 

The  following  were  unanimously  elected 
members:  Rev.  W.  Bell  (Ireland),  Messrs. 
C.  L'Estrange  Ewen  (Dorset),  J.  B.  Neyrond 
(London),  H.  C.  Slade  (N.S.W.),  A.  W. 
Hall,  B.A.  (Birmingham),  A.  Hill  (Greece), 
Wilcox,  Smith  &  Co.  (N.Z.). 

During  the  past  session  eighty-nine  mem- 
bers have  been  elected,  eighteen  have  died, 
resigned,  or  been  dropped,  leaving  a  net 
increase  of  seventy-one,  and  making  a  total 
of  227  members  on  October  ist. 


The  total  amount  circulated  in  the  ex- 
change packets  during  the  year  ending 
June,  1897,  was  ;£35,2i8  i6s.  5d.,  of  which 
;i^54oi  1 8s.  45d.  was  sold. 

The  programme  for  next  session  was 
settled  as  follows  : 

tOct.  7 — Annual  General  Business  Meeting. 

*  ,,  21— Presidential  Address  .  .  Mr.  W.  T.  Wilson. 
tNov.  4 — Display.     Ceylon. 

*  ,,    18 — Display  (with  Notes).     African  Colonies. 

Mr.  R.  Hollick. 
tDec.  2 — Display.     Western  Australia. 

*  ,,    t6 — Display.     Uruguay  and  Venezuela. 

tjan.  6 — Paper.  Hungary.  .  .  Mr.  V.  Lundeblad. 
•„    20 — Display  (with  Notes).     U.S.A. 

Mr.  C.  A.  Stephenson. 
tFeb.  3— Paper.     Me.vico  ii.       .        .     Mr.  W.  T.  Wilson. 

*  „    17 — Display  (with  Notes).     Belgium. 

Mr.  F.  E.  Wilson. 
tMch.3 — Display.     Argentine  and  Brazil. 

*  ,,  17— Paper.  Queensland.  .  .  Mr.  W.  Pimm. 
'Ap.  21 — Paper.  Roumania.  .  .  Mr.  H.  Edelmuller. 
tMay  5 — Paper.     Egypt.           .         .  Mr.  G.  Johnson. 

*  ,,    19 — Paper.     Persia.  .        .       Mr.  P.  T.  Deakin. 

Members  are  specially  requested  to  bring  their  collections 
of  the  countries  under  discussion. 

t  Meetings  to  be  held  at  20S,  Birchfield  Road. 
*  Great  Western  Hotel. 


MANCHESTER   PHILATELIC   SOCIETY. 


President — W.  Dorning  Beckton. 
Hon.  Sec. — A.  H.  Harrison. 


The  opening  meeting  of  the  session  was 
held  at  the  Grand  Hotel,  on  Friday, 
September  24th,  1897. 

The  general  business  included  the  election 
of  the  following  gentlemen  to  membership 
of  the  Society  :  Mr.  W.  L.  Chew,  Mr.  G. 
J.  Newman,  Mr.  E.  T.  Roberts,  and  Mr.  H. 
Buckley,  corresponding  member. 


After  the  general  business  was  concluded, 
a  conversazione  and  e.xhibition  by  members 
was  held,  at  which  over  100  members  and 
friends  were  present. 

The  exhibits  were  of  an  interesting  and 
varied  character.  Amongst  them  we  noticed 
Mr.  \'ernon  Roberts'  St.  Lucia,  which 
attracted   attention   at  the   recent    London 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


303 


Exhibition.  These  having  been  so  fully 
described  in  the  Philatelic  Press,  call  for 
no  further  comment. 

Mr.  J.  H.  Abbott  showed  a  large  and 
varied  exhibit,  which  included  Hayti  (all 
unused),  i  c,  imperf.,  180  specimens,  in- 
cluding a  reconstructed  sheet ;  2  c,  100 
specimens,  showing  three  printings  ;  3  c, 
half-sheet,  and  large  blocks ;  also  three 
printings  5  c,  7  c,  and  20  c,  in  large  blocks 
and  pairs  ;  Suez  Canal,  20  c,  entire  sheet 
(originals),  and  large  blocks  of  other  values, 
in  which  was  i  c.  (block),  on  very  deep 
buff  paper  (.''toned  by  the  gum)  ;  Brazil, 
1st  issue,  in  pairs  and  strips,  and  the  slanting 
figures  complete ;  entire  sheets  of  Virgin 
Islands  and  St.  Helena. 

Mr.  Beazley  exhibited  St.  Vincent  fairly 
complete,  in  single  specimens,  including  all 
the  4d.  and  is.  values  ;  St.  Lucia,  a  nice 
collection,  used,  with  the  2d.,  blue,  of  the 
second  issue  in  this  state  ;  Virgin  Islands, 
including  the  shillings;  Nevis,  the  engraved, 
used  and  unused. 

Mr.  W.  Doming  Beckton's  Capes,  trian- 
gular issue,  were  one  of  the  great  attrac- 
tions. 

Mr.  Brown  (Salisbury)  sent  a  very  inte- 
resting exhibit  of  post  cards  ;  also  frames 
containing  reconstructed  sheets  of  the  two 
plates  of  the  2d.,  blue,  no  lines,  Great 
Britain. 

Mr.  C.  H.  Coote,  a  strip  of  six  80  c, 
France,  1854  issue,  the  last  stamp  tcte-bcche, 
and  other  good  things. 

Mr.  G.  B.  Duerst's  exhibit  consisted  of 
Roumania,  with  which  he  was  so  successful 
in  London,  and  a  small  portion  of  his 
large  collection  of  Russian  locals  and  Spain 
Habilitados,  the  three  rarest  stamps  of  the 
latter  being  shown. 

Mr.  E.  Fildes,  two  sheets  of  minor 
varieties. 

Mr.  O.  Gillett,  a  nice  collection  of  Modena 
and  one  entire  envelope  of  Tuscany,  on 
which  were  a  pair  and  single  specimen  of 
I  soldi  and  2  soldi. 

Mr.  W.  Grunewald  showed  the  ist  issue 
France,  unused,  in  blocks  and  pairs  ;  2nd 
issue,  in  similar  condition,  an  extremely  fine 
lot  of  the  Bordeaux  lithographs.  In  this 
exhibit  there  were  16  tcte-bechc  varieties. 
The  reprints  of  each  value  were  shown  for 
comparison. 

Mr.  Heginbottom's  general  collection, 
consisting  of  used  single  specimens,  15,000, 
in  which  were  a  very  large  number  of  rare 
stamps,  including  Turks  Islands,  is.,  prune; 
St.   Vincent,    5s.,    star,    and    all    the    pro- 


visionals ;  Barbados,  id,  on  half  of  5s.  (3); 
Virgin  Islands,  6d.,  perf.  16,  and  all  the 
shillings  ;  Nevis,  6d.,  lithe,  and  90  c.,  U.S., 
Justice. 

Mr.  R.  F.  V.  Harrison,  a  varied  lot  of 
British  Africans,  in  large  blocks,  unused. 

Mr.  J.  R.  Hesketh,  upwards  of  200  Mul- 
ready  envelopes  and  wrappers. 

Mr.  A.  H.  Harrison,  part  of  his  collec- 
tion of  Norway  and  Iceland  as  shown  in 
London. 

Mr.  M.  W.  Jones,  the  1893  Columbus 
Issue  of  U.S.,  unused  and  complete. 

Mr.  F.  W.  Lake,  24  c.  and  30  c.  U.S. 
Government  reprints ;  Lagos,  2s.  6d.,  5s., 
and  los.,  puce,  unused  ;  Great  Britain,  id., 
with  alteration  of  control  number ;  Ceylon, 
several  of  the  pence  issue  in  blocks,  unused  ; 
British  Guiana,  1853  issue,  vertical  pair, 
showing  small  "  o  "  in  "  one." 

Mr.  W.  W.  Munn,  cardboard  proofs  of 
U.S.,  New  Yorks,  and  1847  issue;  5  c. 
and  10  c.  in  a  large  number  of  shades; 
1 85 1  and  1855  issues,  various  varieties  in 
each  value.     A  very  interesting  lot. 

Mr.  J.  C.  North,  Cyprus,  |d.,  Plate  19; 
id.,  Plate  174,  strip  of  3,  unused,  with 
margin  and  plate  number  ;  Plate  220,  id., 
medium  surcharge ;  Plate  2s.  6d.,  a  pair 
unused,  long  surcharge;  Plates  174,  181, 
218,  and  220,  used,  double  and  treble  small 
surcharge ;  30  paras  on  i  piastre,  double 
surcharge,  used  and  unused.  The  higher 
values  were  fully  represented  used  and  un- 
used, as  were  also  the  fiscals  available  for 
postage,  with  the  Postmaster's  signature, 
including  the  ids. 

Mr.  Oxley,  Confederate  States,  used,  on 
entires. 

Mr.  D.  Ostara,  two  frames  of  varieties, 
the  most  noticeable  being  Nevis,  block  of 
six  of  the  6d.,  engraved,  unused,  and  with  full 
margins ;  Mauritius,  large  fillet,  and  the 
U.S.  periodicals  up  to  100  dollars. 

Mr.  P.  L.  Pemberton,  a  sheet  out  of  the 
"Fentoria"  collection,  illustrating  the  care 
with  which  this  lady,  even  in  the  olden  days, 
mounted  her  stamps,  so  as  not  to  destroy 
the  "  O  G." 

Mr.  E.  Petri,  a  fine  lot  of  Italian  States, 
used,  all  in  superb  condition.  The  mounting 
displayed  to  advantage  the  beauties  of  2 
soldi,  Tuscany,  in  pairs  ;  60  crazie,  9  crazie, 
on  white  paper,  and  upwards  of  twenty 
specimens  of  i  soldo ;  Greece  (Paris), 
Gibraltar,  and  Portugal,  all  unused. 

Mr.  H.  Ranck,  a  frame  of  the  most  in- 
teresting of  the  Mexican  stamps,  including 
Guadalajara  perforated. 


304 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


Mr.  N.  Wanstall,  a  representative  collec- 
tion of  Bulgaria. 

The  proceedings  were  enlivened  by  a 
string  band,  and  a  thoroughly  enjoyable  and, 


from   a    Society  point    of   view,   successful 
evening  was  spent. 

Arthur  H.  Harrison,  Hon.  Sec. 

Grasmere,  Whitefield,  near  Manchester. 


Correction. — In  our  last  issue  "Mr.  T.  Roberts"  should  have  been  "Mr.  Vernon  Roberts.' 


SUBURBAN  STAMP  EXCHANGE. 


On  the  return  of  the  April  packets,  the 
accounts  for  that  month  were  at  once 
submitted,  and  were  settled  within  seven 
days.     The  sales  were  as  follows  : 

£     s.     d. 
April.  A  I  packet 
„      A  2      „ 
„      B  I       „ 
B  -> 
Supplementary    rounds    of 
A  I  and  A  2  packets     . 


107  14     2 

III     7     4 

49  19     8 

39    on 


53 


I 


Considering  the  time  of  year,  this  was 
very  satisfactory. 

May  packets  are  expected  back  from  the 
supplementary  (non- contributors')  rounds 
very  shortly.     No  packets  were  made  up  in 


June,  but  sheets  received  were  included  in 
July  packets. 

The  aggregate  value  of  the  September 
packets  was  well  above  the  average,  and 
many  desirable  stamps  were  offered  at  about 
half  catalogue  prices.  Old  Europeans  in 
good  condition  seem  to  be  most  in  demand, 
N.  Americans  running  a  good  second.  Nine 
applications  for  membership  have  been  en- 
tertained, and  five  declined.  Total  number 
of  members  to  date,  312.  Copies  of  the 
new  regulations,  which  meet  with  general 
approval,  have  been  sent  to  every  member, 
and  duly  signed.  Responsible  collectors, 
giving  good  references,  are  welcomed  by 
applying  to  the  Secretary — H.  A.  Slade, 
Ingleside,  St.  Albans. 


THE    COLLECTORS'    CLUB, 

351,  Fourth  Avenue,  New  York. 


BOARD   OF   GOVERNORS. 

/Vw/Vfw/— William  Herrick.  |  Vice-President— Q,nK9.\x.%  Gregory. 

Treasurer— ]ow&  W.  Scott,  40,  John  Street. 

Secretary—].   IM.  Andreini,  29,  W.  75th  Street. 

Henry  I,.  Calman.  I  John  N.  Luff.  |         Frederick  A.  Nast. 

Hiram  E.  Deats.  F.  E.  P.  Lynde. 


Thirteenth  meeting  of  the  Board  of 
Governors  held  at  Club  House,  351,  Fourth 
Avenue,  August  9,  1897.  Present :  Messrs. 
Scott,  Nast,  Lynde,  and  the  Secretary. 
The  Secretary  was  instructed  to  discontinue 
sending  minutes  to  papers  which  do  not 
publish  them.  The  report  of  Special 
Committee  on  expenses  of  addition  to 
billiard-room  was  then  received,  and  the 
Committee  was  authorized  to  negotiate  with 
landlord  for  an  extension  of  lease  for  a 
period  not  longer  than  five  years,  at  an 
increased  rental  of  about  Sioo  per  annum, 
provided  the  landlord  built  the  extension  at 
his  own  expense,  and  according  to  such 
specifications    as    may    be    agreed    upon. 


Treasurer's  report  was  accepted, 
in  bank,  8743.09,  on  August  i. 


Balance 


Fourteenth  meeting  of  the  Board  of 
Governors,  held  at  the  Club  House,  351, 
Fourth  Avenue,  September  13th.  Called 
to  order  at  8.15  p.m.  Present:  Messrs. 
Caiman,  Scott,  Luff,  Lynde,  Nast,  and  the 
Secretary. 

Minutes  of  previous  meeting  read  and 
approved. 

Treasurer's  report  received,  showing 
S722.07  cash  in  bank.  House  Committee 
report  received.  Appropriation  for  cost  of 
re-covering  billiard-table,  §20.50,  approved. 

The  Secretary  was  requested  to  acknow- 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


305 


ledge  receipt  of  and  thank  Mr.  P.  M. 
Wolsieffer  for  twelve  pieces  of  music  pre- 
sented to  the  Club. 

Special  Committee  on  lease  of  Club  House 
reported  progress.  It  was  voted  to  confirm 
the  general  understanding  that  the  Club's 
fiscal  year  ends  on  September  30th  in  each 
year.  The  following  applicants  were  unani- 
mously elected  stockholders  : 

Geo.  H.  Mathews,  146,  Bevay,  N.Y.  City. 

C.  E.  Hussman,  2,736,  Dayton  Street,  St. 
Louis,  Mo. 

Frank  John  Besher,  City  Hall  Market, 
Kansas  City,  Mo. 


The  Treasurer  was  directed  to  give  each 
of  them  a  share  of  stock. 

The  following  were  unanimously  elected 
subscribing  members  : 

J.  J.  Sullivan,  441,  Bevay,  N.Y.  City. 

W.  P.  Todd,  Morristown,  N.J. 

They  were  thereupon  duly  declared 
elected. 

An  expense  of  $35  to  $50  was  authorized 
by  the  board  for  half-tone  cuts  for  year 
book,  to  be  loaned  to  I.  A.  Mekeel,  and  the 
Secretary  to  be  their  custodian. 

Adjourned  9.35  p.m. 

J.  M.  Andreini,  Secretary. 


Cnrrtspnnkiue. 


Communications. — All  comrnunkations  of  Philatelic  matters  and  Publications  for  Review  should 
be  addressed  to  the  Editor  of  The  London  Philatelist,  Kingston  Lodge,  Richmond  Place, 
Brighton. 

Advertisements  should  be  sent  to  Mr.  H.  M.  Gooch  (Advertising  Department),  Effingham  House, 
Arundel  Street,  London,  W.C. 

Subscriptions.  — The  London  Philatelist  will  be  sent,  post  free  in  Great  Britain  or  the  countries 
of  the  Postal  Union,  to  any  subscriber,  on  receipt  of  6s.  (.$1.50).  Subscribers'  remittances  should 
be  sent  to  Mr.  H.  M.  Gooch,  Effingham  House,  Arundel  Street,  Strand,  London,  W.C. 


THE 
2/-,  BROWN,  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  "  London  Philatelist." 
Dear  Sir, —  In  your  last  issue  Mr.  Harris 
asks  to  be  informed  as  to  the  number  of 
2/-,  brown,  that  were  issued,  stating  that  he 
had  heard  it  was  not  in  excess  of  2000. 
This  estimate  is,  I  venture  to  assert,  much 
too  low.  According  to  a  return  published 
in  T/ie  Life  of  Sir  Ro7uland  Hill,  the  value 
of  the  two  shilling  stamps  issued  between 
July  1st,  1867,  and  December  31st,  1879, 
amounted  to  a  total  of  ^6,475,820,  and  the 
number  of  labels  to  64,758,200,  or  an 
average  of  over  5  millions  per  annum. 
The  2/-,  brown,  was  issued  from  January 
1st,  1880,  to  October  31st  of  the  same  year 
— a  period  of  ten  months.  Had  the  use  of 
the  two  shilling  stamps  been  even  over  the 
whole  period  of  its  existence,  the  number 


printed  in  brown  should  have  been  about 
4I  millions.  After  1875-6,  however,  when 
special  stamps  were  issued  for  prepayment 
of  telegraphic  messages,  and  most  of  the 
high  postal  rates  were  reduced,  the  use  of 
this  value  became  very  small.  Still,  only 
one  per  cent,  of  the  average  would  be 
43,000  (or  2150  post  office  sheets  or  panes). 
Perhaps  Mr.  Harris'  informant  meant  2000 
sheets,  which  would  be  nearer  the  mark. 

If  the  varying  values  of  stamps  bore  any 
relation  to  the  numbers  issued  of  them,  we 
might  get  at  this  number  another  way.  Put 
the  2/-,  brown  (used),  at  80/-,  and  the  2/-, 
blue,  at  6d.,  and  the  number  issued  of  the 
former  should  be  about  igyth  that  of  the 
latter,  or  about  400,000. 

The  correct  number  probably  lies  some- 
where between.  Yours  truly, 

H.  L'Estrange  Ewen. 


""^^n^" 


[      3o6     ] 


^\jt  Parket, 


Messrs.  Cheveley  &  Co. 
August  20th. 

Cape  triangular,  4d.,on  bluepaper, 
block  of  six,  unused 

Switzerland,  5  +  5  (medium) 

Ceylon,  8d.,  imperf. 

Mauritius,  Britannia,  i/-,  yellow- 
green,  imperf.,  unused  block 
of  four  ..... 

Nova  Scotia,  i/-,  cold  violet;  6d., 
dark  green  ;  3d.,  blue  ;  and 
half  of  another  3d.,  used,  on 
piece  of  envelope  . 

St.  Vincent,  Star  wmk.,  i/-,  lake, 
perf.  11^,  unused  . 

Bahamas,  no  wmk.,  4d.,  rose,  un- 
used, pair       .... 

Ditto,  ditto,  6d.,  grey-lilac,  ditto  . 

Trinidad,  1859-61,  no  wmk.,  id., 
rosy  red,  clean-cut  perfs., 
unused,  pair. 

Ditto,  ditto,  4d.,  dull  violet,  rough 
perf.,  pair,  unused 

United  States,  1869,  complete  set 
of  the  reissue  made  in  1875, 
without  embossing 

Ditto,  Justice,  complete  set  (10)  . 


£    s. 

5  5 
13  10 
15  10 


4    5 


4  17    6 


4 

0 

0 

3 

10 

0 

7 

0 

0 

3 

12 

6 

6 

5 

0 

4  10 
4    6 


3  10 


Messrs.  Ventom,  Bull,  &  Cooper 
September  30th. 

Ionian  Islands,  the  set  of  three, 
used,  on  pieces  of  original  . 
Heligoland,  1873,  4  sch.,  green 
and  rose  .... 
Ditto,  ditto,  I  sch.,  rose  and  green 
Bremen,  perf.,  7  grote,  black  and 

yellow,  on  piece  of  original 
Hamburg,  9  sch.,  yellow,  imperf. 
Lubeck,  the  error,  2^  sch.,  brown 
Mecklenburg-Schwerin,  1 866-67, 

2  sch.,  grey-lilac    . 
Mecklenburg  -  Strelitz,    J     sch 

orange-red    . 
Ditto,   ditto,  ^    sch.,  green,    on 

piece  of  original  . 
Schleswig-Holstein,  ist  issue, 

sch.,  blue 
Ditto,  ditto,  ditto.,  2  sch.,  rose 
Oldenburg,  1859,  ^  gros.,  black  on 

green     .... 
Ditto,  1861,  J  gros.,  orange-yellow 
Saxony,  3  pf.,  red 
Switzerland,  Basle,  2^  rappen 
Ditto,  Geneva,  5  +  5  c,  on  yellow 

green     .... 
Ditto,  Vaud,  4  c,  black  and  red 
Ditto,   Zurich,    4    rappen,  black 

horizontal  lines     . 
Naples,  ^  tornese,  blue,  "  Arms  " 
Tuscany,  2  soldi,  brick-red  . 
Spain,  1 85 1,  2  reales,  red 
Ditto,  1852,  2  reales,  red 
Ditto,  1853,  2  reales,  red      .         .       5   15 


2 

10 

3 

15 

6 

0 

5 

5 

17 
5 

S 

16 

0 

19 

0 

17 
16 

10 
0 

5 

18 
8 

15 
0 
0 

30     o     o 

360 


II 

10 

0 

10 

10 

0 

3 

6 

0 

3 

5 

0 

14 

10 

0 

12 

15 

0 

o 
o 

o 
6 
o 
o 

o 
o 

o 
o 
o 
o 
o 
o 


Ditto,  Madrid,  3  cuartos,  bronze, 
on  entire       .        .         .         . 

Ditto,  1855,  the  error  of  colour, 
2  reales,  blue 

Ditto,  1865,  12  cuartos,  rose  and 
blue,  imperf,  with  centre  in- 
verted    

Ditto,  ditto,  the  same  stamp, 
perforated     .        .         .        . 

Moldavia,  54  paras,  blue  on  green 

Levant,  1865,  2  kop.,  brown  and 
blue       . 

Ditto,  ditto,  20  kop.,  blue  and  red 

India,  1856-64,  2  annas,  green 

British  Bechuanaland,^5,  postally 
used       .... 

British  Central  Africa,  ^5,  sage 
green     .... 

British  South  Africa,  ^10,  brow 

Cape  woodblock,  4d.,  dark  blue 

Lagos,  2s.  6d.,  olive-black    . 

Ditto,  5s.,  blue      . 

Ditto,  IDS.,  lilac-brown 

United  States,  1869,  15  c,  with 
inverted  centre 

Canada,  perf.,  6d.,  lilac 

Dominica,  is.,  mauve  . 

Nevis,  CA,  6d.,  green 

Bahamas,    CC,    12^,    is.,    green 
unused  .... 

St.  Vincent,  Star  wmk.,  is.,  rose, 
unused,  no  gum     . 

Ditto,  5s.,  rose-red 

Ditto,  id.  on  half  of  6d.,  blue 
green,  unused,  pair 

Ditto,  4d.  on  IS.   . 

British  Guiana,  1850-51,  8  c. 
green,  cut  to  shape 

Ditto,  ditto,  1 2  c,  blue,  cut  square 

Ditto,  1852,  4  c,  deep  blue  . 

Ditto,  1856,  4  c,  magenta    . 
Buenos  Ayres,  4  pesos,  vermilion 

Ditto,  5  pesos,  orange,  fair  . 
South  Australia,   first  issue,    is 
violet     .... 


£    s.    d. 
1600 

15  10    o 


6  15     o 
900 

II     II       o 

7  10    o 
650 

400 

376 


4  10 

5  15 
10  10 

4  S 

5  5 
12  10 

10  10 
4  12 

4  o 

5  12 


I 


Messrs.  Puttick  &  Simpson, 
September  21st,  22nd. 

British  East  Africa,  first  issue, 
\,  I,  and  4  annas,  unused 

Natal,  wmk.  Star,  imperf.,  3d., 
blue,  unused 

St.  Helena,  imperf.,  id.,  lake, 
block  of  8,  unused 

Canada,  7id.,  green,  unused 

United  States,  Justice, 90c., purple 

St.  Christopher,  CA,  4d.,  blue, 
unused  ..... 

New  Zealand,  half  of  is.,  green 
on  blue  paper,  used  as  6d., 
on  original,  with  date,  Otago, 
August  i6th,  1858  .         .       4 

Queensland,  imperf.,  2d.,  blue      .       5 


II 

4 
8 
6 


7 

14 
o 


4  10 


o 

o 
o 
o 
o 
o 

o 
6 
o 
6 


8     5     o 
14    o    o 

14   10     o 


10     o 


16   10    o 
26    o    o 

10  ID      O 

11  00 
16   10     O 

12  12      O 


O 


476 


6 
o 
o 


THE 


THE     MONTHLY     JOURNAL     OF 

THE    PHILATELIC   SOCIETY,    LONDON. 


Vol.   VI. 


NOVEMBER,    1897. 


No.   71. 


%  Slmtptng  Cj)nngc« 


^HE  quinquennial  deliberations  of  the  Postal  Congresses  do 
not,  as  a  rule,  present  any  striking  features  of  interest  to 
stamp  collectors,  but  are  mainly  occupied  in  the  solution 
of  matters  of  administration  and  detail  that  affect  the  postal 
work  of  the  several  countries  of  the  Postal  Union.  That 
very  important  innovation— the  fixing  of  an  International 
Postal  Rate  for  all  the  countries  who  belonged  to  the  Union 
— was,  however,  an  exception  and  of  far-reaching  import  to 
the  Philatelic  world,  as  it  was  the  cause  of  a  great  number 
of  fresh  issues.  The  Congress  held  this  summer  at  Washing- 
ton has  broken  the  spell  of  quietude  in  a  startling  manner,  in 
passing  the  resolution  as  to  the  future  colour  of  the  three 
denominations  of  stamps  mostly  in  use  for  international  purposes.  After 
a  lengthened  discussion,  in  which  the  proposed  alteration  was  warmly 
opposed,  as  we  are  informed,  by  the  representatives  of  Great  Britain,  the 
United  States,  and  other  countries,  it  was  finally  decided  that  the  colours 
of  the  halfpenny,  penny,  and  twopence-halfpenny  Stamps  (or  their  equiva- 
lents in  other  countries)  should  be  respectively  green,  red,  and  blue  on 
January  the  First,  i8g8.  In  order  to  glean  the  significance  of  this  change 
it  is  but  necessary  to  glance  at  the  Catalogue  to  realize  what  the  future  will 
bring  forth.  In  the  case  of  this  country  the  halfpenny  and  the  penny  will 
require  changes,  and  the  latter  will  revert  to  its  time-honoured  garb  of  red  ; 
the  twopence-halfpenny  may  also  require  to  be  modified  to  "  true  blue." 
The  appearance  of  the  green  halfpenny  will  probably  require  a  new  colour 
for  the  one  shilling,  and  the  changes,  perhaps,  may  not  even  rest  here.  In 
other  important  countries  such  as  Spain,  P^rance,  Belgium,  Norway,  United 
States,  and  many  others — not  to  mention  the  numerous  and  important 
Colonies  of  the  world — important  alterations  in  colour  will  have  to  be 
effected,  and  there  seems  every  probability  of  an  avalanche  of  new  issues 


3o8  SOME   REMARKS   ON   THE  STAMPS   OF  GREiXADA. 

such  as  followed  the  introduction  of  the  CA  and  Crown  watermark  in 
our  Colonies,  or  the  forementioned  Universal  Postal  Union  Rates.  This 
may,  perhaps,  be  a  blessing  in  disguise,  but  we  fancy  that  the  Philatelic 
world  would  have  been  well  content  to  jog  along  contented  as  it  is  !  The 
collectors  of  European  Stamps — whose  name  is  legion — have  assuredly  but 
little  cause  to  complain  of  any  redundancy  of  new  issues  ;  they  have  been  so 
iew  and  far  between  that  the  monthly  chronicle  of  "new  issues"  for  this 
portion  of  the  globe  has  frequently  been  a  lucics  a  iion  hiceiido.  They  will, 
however,  now  have  a  goodly  crop  of  fresh  varieties,  a  benefit  they  will  share 
with  the  large  section  of  collectors  who  take  our  Colonial  Stamps.  In  any 
case  the  flattering  unction  may  be  laid  to  all  our  souls  that  these  are  postal 
changes  in  the  true  sense  of  the  word,  and  are  untainted  by  the  speculative 
or  unnecessary  bacilli.  To  the  general  collector  and  the  thousands  upon 
thousands  who  use  printed  albums  these  new  issues  will  be  heartily 
welcome.  In  this  section  of  the  Philatelic  community,  completeness  being 
obviously  impossible,  the  desideratum  is  to  have  as  many  varieties  and 
as  many  spaces  filled  as  possible,  and  the  impending  changes  will  add  to 
its  manifold  joys.  The  publishers  of  Philatelic  albums  might  also  consider 
whether  a  postponement  of  any  new  issues  (such  as  Messrs.  Stanley  Gibbons' 
New  Imperial,  announced  in  this  journal)  until  the  majority  of  the  changes 
are  effected  would  not  be  wise,  otherwise  the  supplement  will  be  almost 
coincident  with  the  new  edition. 

To  the  advanced  collector  and  the  Philatelist,  who  doubtless  form  the 
majority  of  our  readers,  the  issue  of  these  new  varieties,  almost  all  of  low 
values,  will  be  received  with  equanimity.  A  little  trouble  and  a  little  extra 
expense  will  secure  the  whole  of  the  new  colours  in  the  particular  group 
affected  by  specialists,  and  the  Philatelist  will,  in  return,  have  the  satisfaction 
of  seeing  his  ranks  materially  increased  by  issues  that  are  in  every  way 
legitimate  and  collectible. 


Some  llemarhs  on  tljc  Stamps  of  ^renatia. 

A  Paper  read   before  the   Philatelic  Society,   London,  on   INIay  7th,    1897. 

By  Dr.  STANLEY  TAYLOR. 


WISH  at  the  outset  to  make  it  clearly  understood  that  my 
remarks  with  regard  to  these  stamps  must  not  in  any  degree 
be  taken  as  authentic,  because  I  have  had  no  official  in- 
formation as  to  the  size  of  the  plates  printed  from,  dates  of 
issue,  etc.,  but  that  my  conclusions  are  formed  simply  upon 
a  minute  study  of  the  stamps  themselves  ;  and  I  trust  these 
conclusions  may  form  a  worthy  basis  for  anyone  who,  wishing  to  publish 
a  pamphlet  upon  the  subject,  would  take  the  trouble  to  verify  them  from 
any  official  document  he  may  have  access  to. 


SOME  REMARKS   ON  THE   STAMPS   OF  GRENADA.  309 

To  those  who  take  an  intelh'gent  interest  in  Philately,  the  stamps  of 
Grenada  afford  a  fruitful  field  for  study.  The  early  issues,  in  the  first  place, 
for  example,  show  in  a  most  marked  degree  the  various  difficulties  printers 
had  to  contend  against  whilst  perfecting  the  system  of  perforation. 

As  far  as  I  am  aware,  the  fullest  information  we  have  received  with 
regard  to  these  stamps  is  given  by  Mr.  Bacon  in  The  Postage  Stamps  of  tJie 
British  Colonics  in  the  West  Indies,  compiled  and  published  by  the  Philatelic 
Society  of  London  in  i8gi.  The  information  he  gives  us  concerning  the 
earlier  issues  is  simply  :  "  Issue  I.,  June  (.''),  1861.  Description  of  stamp  :  On 
white  wove  watermarked  paper  of  varying  thickness,  yellowish  gum,  machine 
perf.  15.  id.,  green  (shades);  6d.,  rose-red.  Issue  II.,  1864.  Same  as  last, 
but  on  wove  paper,  watermarked  with  a  Six-rayed  Star  of  various  sizes. 
Perf.  14x15  compound,  id.,  green  (shades);  6d.,  rose,  rose-red,  orange- 
vermilion  (shades)."  I  think  a  little  careful  study  will  show  this  summary 
to  be  very  incomplete. 

It  is  finally  accepted  now,  with  regard  to  this  Six-rayed  Star,  that  as  far 
as  these  early  issues  are  concerned  there  are  two  distinct  Stars — the  Large 
and  the  Small ;  and  although  the  Small  Star  may  vary  slightly  in  size,  the 
Large  and  Small  are  never  found  on  the  same  sheet. 

As  to  the  paper  itself,  it  was  evidently  hand-made,  and  varied  considerably 
in  thickness  in  the  same  sheet ;  and  stamps  of  these  issues  can  be  found  on 
any  thickness  of  paper,  from  the  so-called  "cartridge"  to  the  '' peliircT 

Now  I  take  it,  the  object  of  a  diligent  collector  (call  him  a  specialist  if 
you  like)  is  to  collect  not  only  a  specimen  of  each  issue,  but  also  a  specimen 
of  the  various  supplies  of  each  issue,  just  as  one  collects  shades  of  the  same 
stamp  that  mean  generally  the  different  supplies  of  the  same  stamp  sent  out 
from  the  printer,  but  slightly  changed  in  colour.  Many  of  us  (I,  for  one) 
commenced  to  collect  specimens  on  thick,  medium,  and  thin  paper,  until  our 
error  was  pointed  out  in  Messrs.  Bacon  and  Napier's  book  on  Barbados  ; 
even  then  I  was  sceptical.  I  could  understand  thick  and  medium  thickness 
on  the  same  sheet,  but  not  thick  and  thin — the  difference  is  so  great ;  but 
I  have  now  fully  come  to  the  conclusion  that  thickness  of  paper  is  of  no 
interest,  especially  as  Mr.  Giwelb's  suggestion  may  be  correct — that  the 
parcels  of  stamps  sent  out  to  the  West  Indies  were  according  to  weight ; 
therefore  a  sheet  of  thin  paper  might  easily  be  sent  out  with  the  thick,  or 
the  three  degrees  may  appear  in  the  same  sheet.  This  question  of  paper  is 
interesting,  because  one  is  continually  coming  across  stamps  at  enhanced 
prices  because  they  happen  to  be  on  one  of  the  two  extremes  of  thickness 
of  paper. 

Issue  1861.    No  Wmk. 

Issue  I.,  June  (i"),  1861.  There  is  nothing  to  add  to  the  usual  description 
of  this  issue,  except  to  draw  attention  to  the  method  of  perforation.  It  is 
evidently  done  by  a  machine  of  very  primitive  character,  for  the  pins  or 
points  of  the  machine  never  pass  through  the  paper.     The  perforation  is  a 

blind  one,  and  I  name  it  Z. 

id.,  green  (shades). 
6d.,  rose. 
Imperforate  Proofs,      id.  and  6d.,  rose. 


3IO  SOME   REMARKS   ON  THE   STAMPS   OF  GRENADA. 

Issues  1864  to  1875.    Wmk.  Star. 

Issue  II.,  1864.  Same  as  last,  but  on  paper  watermarked  Small  Six-rayed 
Star  upright;  i.e.,  one  point  pointing  directly  upwards.  The  perforation  is 
of  the  same  blind  character,  Z. 

id.,  green  (shades). 

6d.,  rose,  rose-red,  orange-vermilion. 

Issue  III.  On  examining  a  large  stock  of  blocks  of  the  stamps  on  Small 
Star  watermarked  paper,  one  can  easily  distinguish  an  advance  in  the  means 
of  perforation  between  some  of  them.  The  perforations,  although  exceedingly 
rough,  nevertheless  pierce  the  paper  through,  and  so  provide  improved 
facilities  for  the  separation  of  the  stamps.  This  perforation  I  call  Zg.  These 
stamps  are  easily  recognizable  from  Issue  XL,  with  the  perforation  Z-j. 

id.,  green  (shades). 
6d.,  rose. 

Issue  IV.  In  September,  1865,  were  issued,  according  to  Mr.  Moens, 
the  same  stamps,  but  on  wove  paper,  watermarked  Large  Star,  with  the 
perforation  Zg.  On  a  closer  examination  of  these  stamps  it  will  be  seen 
that  the  watermark  of  the  id.,  green,  is  sideways — that  is,  two  points  of  the 
Star  slanting  upwards  ;  or  in  other  words,  the  stamps  were  printed  across 
the  paper  instead  of  upright.  The  watermark  of  the  6d.,  rose-red,  is  always 
upright.  I  will  content  myself  for  the  present  by  simply  mentioning  the 
curious  fact  of  the  id.  being  always  on  watermarked  paper,  Large  Star 
sideways,  and  will  refer  to  this  peculiarity  when  I  come  to  discuss  the 
surcharges  of  April,  1881.  I  do  not  know  whether  the  date  of  issue — - 
September,  1865 — of  Mr.  Moens  is  correct,  for  I  have  found  some  of  the 
id.  postmarked  1875.  Now  as  these  stamps  are  comparatively  rare,  especially 
unused,  it  seems  strange  they  could  have  been  in  use  ten  years. 

id.,  wmk.  sideways,  dark  green. 
6d.,  wmk.  upright,  rose-red. 

Issue    V.      Among    the    id.,    green,    wmk.    Large    Star,    may    be    found 

specimens  possessing  a  clear,  well-cut  perforation   14.     This  perforation  is 

unmistakable,  and   easily  recognizable   from   that   of   Issue   IV. ;    moreover, 

the  watermark  is  no  longer  sideways,  but  upright,  and  the  colour  changed 

to  yellow-green.     So  different  is  this  stamp,  that  I  have  given  it  an  Issue 

to  itself.  ,  ,         •  u^      It 

id.,  wmk.  upright,  yellow-green. 

Issue  VI.  On  examining  the  stamps  of  Issue  III. — i.e.,  those  stamps 
whose  perforations  are  more  clearly  cut,  Zo — one  will  again  find  two  sets  : 
one  belonging  to  Issue  III.,  with  watermark  upright;  and  another  set  with 
watermark  sideways.  Also  the  id.,  green,  is  found  with  a  more  clearly  cut 
perforation  of  14x15^,  with  Star  sideways. 

id.,  wmk.  sideways,  perf.  Z^,  green  (shades). 

6d.       „  ,,  ,,         orange-vermilion,  rose. 

id.,  clear  cut  perf.  14  x  15^,,  green. 


SOAfE   REMARKS   ON   THE   STAMPS   OF  GRENADA.  311 

I  have  not  placed  this  last  id.  in  a  separate  Issue,  because  I  cannot 
satisfy  myself  that  the  perforations  are  so  clearly  cut  as  those  of  Issue  V- 

Thus,  then,  are  the  two  Issues  of  Mr.  Bacon  changed  into  six.  I  have 
placed  Issue  VI.  last  simply  because  the  earliest  dated  postmark  I  have 
found  is  1879.  I  am  perfectly  aware  that  this  is  not  sufficient  to  go  upon, 
as  the  postmark  of  the  early  Issues  was  A  15;  but  when  one  takes  into 
consideration  the  relative  rarity  of  the  stamps  watermarked  Large  Star,  and 
the  fact  that  the  next  issue  of  a  id.  stamp  was  the  surcharge  of  1883,  I  think 
one  is  justified  in  assuming  that  some  Small  Star  stamps  were  issued  after 
the  Large  Star. 

The  6d.,  orange-vermilion,  has  exercised  my  mind  considerably.  I  have 
placed  them  in  this  issue,  however,  because  by  far  the  greater  number  are 
watermarked  Small  Star  sideways;  a  number  also  are  found  with  the  blind 
perforation  Z^,  Star  sideiunys,  which  will  not  fit  into  any  of  my  issues  ;  and 
I  have  found  one  specimen  with  Star  ;//r/^//^— perforation  Zj  (Issue  II.). 
Again,  the  6d.,  rose,  comes  into  this  Issue  V.,  although  rarely,  as  I  have 
only  seen  two  specimens. 

Issues  1875  to  1881. 

Of  the  September,  1875,  Issue,  is.,  blue  surcharge  on  purple,  I  have 
nothing  to  add,  except  to  emphasize  what  I  think  is  now  generally  accepted, 
viz.— that  the  surcharge  "SHILLINS"  is  a  myth.  The  supposed  terminal 
"S"  is  only  a  defective  "g"  made  to  appear  like  an  "s"  by  the  peculiar 
spotted  condition  of  the  background  of  the  stamp.  The  only  real  variety 
I  have  as  yet  found  is  "SHLLIING." 

In  the  surcharge  of  1881,  "Id.,"  "2|d.,"  and  "Four  Pence,"  black  sur- 
charge on  purple,  dull  red  and  blue,  it  is  easy  to  see  that  two  founts  of  type 
were  used  indiscriminately  in  setting  up  the  surcharges  ;  the  letters  of  one 
measure  i\  mm.  in  height,  the  other  i-f  mm.  The  different  combinations 
of  the  two  types  are  so  numerous  that  practically  every  surcharge  on  the 
120  stamps  of  each  value  varies. 

The  chief  varieties  common  to  each  value  are : 

"  ro  "  of  "  POSTAGE  "  closer  than  usual. 

"  ST "  „  farther  apart. 

"P"  „  higher  than  the  rest  of  the  letters. 

"s"  „  lower 

"Ta"  „  closer  than  usual. 

The  principal  varieties  peculiar  to  the  |d.  are: 

Period  instead  of  hyphen  between  "  Half  Penny,"  No.  5. 
Long  hyphen  between  "  Half  Penny,"  Nos.  6,  13,  21,  25,  32. 
No  hyphen  between  "  Half  Penny,"  Nos.  88,  90. 
"OSTAGE,"  No.  100  on  the  sheet. 

There  are  also  specimens  showing  the  surcharge  printed  twice. 


312  SOME  REMARKS  ON  THE  STAMPS   OF  GRENADA. 

The  principal  variety  peculiar  to  the  2jd.  is : 

No  period  after  the  value. 

The  principal  varieties  peculiar  to  the  4d.  are  : 

"  F  "  in  "  Four  "  lower  than  the  other  letters. 

"  F  "  „  farther  away  from  the  other  letters. 

Length  of  surcharge  "Four  Pence"  much  shorter  (ii  mm.),  the  usual 
length  being  about   12^  mm. 

These  three  stamps  are  on  paper  watermarked  Large  Star,  but  the  "  \d." 
is  always  sideways,  whereas  the  watermark  of  the  "2|d."  and  "4d."  is 
always  upright.  This  is  a  curious  fact,  and  one  I  cannot  explain.  I  have 
an  entire  sheet  of  the  Jd.,  and  it  is  very  nearly  square  in  shape. 

The  sizes  of  the  half- sheets  of  paper,  according  to  Messrs.  Bacon  and 
Napier  in  their  book  on  Barbados,  are  only  very  slightly  out  of  the  square, 
therefore  it  would  make  very  little  difference  which  way  the  plate  was 
printed  ;  and  if  the  sheets  had  been  printed  indiscriminately  upright  or 
across  the  paper  one  would  not  have  been  surprised,  but  the  -^-d.  is  akvays 
on  paper  watermarked  Large  Star  sideways,  and  the  2-^d.  and  4d.  on  Large 
Star  upright. 

The  2|d.  and  4d.  are  also  found  on  the  broad,  or  South  Australian  Star 
watermarked  paper,  the  4d.  being  much  the  rarer. 

1883  Provisionals. 

In  January,  1883,  the  yellow  fiscal,  watermarked  Small  Star  upright,  with 
a  Crown  and  "One  Penny"  printed  in  green,  was  surcharged  "POSTAGE," 
and  used  as  a  penny  stamp ;  this  surcharge  was  firstly  (i')  written  across  the 
stamp.  Of  the  four  written  surcharges  I  have  seen  (three  of  which  I  possess, 
the  fourth  being  in  the  possession  of  Baron  A.  de  Reuterskiold)  "  POSTAGE  " 
reads  from  S.VV.  to  N.E. ;  Mr.  Bacon  catalogues  one  reading  from  N.W.  to  S.E. 
The  word  "  POSTAGE "  was  then  printed  in  Roman  capitals,  3I  mm.  in 
height,  across  the  stamp.  To  form  the  "  |-d."  this  word  was  printed  twice 
diagonally  across  the  stamp,  reading  the  same  way  on  both  halves  from  S.W. 
to  N.E. 

As,  I  suppose,  "POSTAGE"  in  letters  3f  mm.  high  took  up  too  much 
space,  the  word  was  printed  in  smaller  letters,  2\  mm.  in  height,  generally 
from  S.W.  to  N.E.,  though  I  have  one  lower  half  on  which  the  letters  read 
from  S.E.  to  N.W.  In  this  tyjoe  the  surcharge  is  always  inverted  on  the 
lower  half. 

The  words  "  One  Penny  "  vary  in  length.  Mr.  Bacon  gives  two  lengths, 
0)\  and  10^  mm.,  measuring,  I  presume,  the  bottom  of  the  surcharge,  and  he 
distinguishes  one  from  the  other  by  the  "  O  "  of  "  One  "  and  "  P  "  of  "  Penny," 
in  the  10^  mm.  measurement,  being  taller  than  the  other  letters.  Messrs. 
Stanley  Gibbons  give  three  lengths,  10,  lo|,  and  li  mm.,  measuring,  I 
presume,  the  top  of  the  surcharge.  I  cannot  agree  with  either  of  these  lists. 
Although  I  have  learnt  a  very  great  deal  from  the  admirable  manner  in 
which  Messrs.  Stanley  Gibbons'  books  are  kept,  I  cannot  accept  their  1 1  mm. 
measurement.     All  their  specimens  I  have  seen  have  "O"  of  "One"  and 


SOME   REMARKS   ON  THE  STAMPS  OF  GRENADA.  313 

"  P  "  of  "  Penny  "  high  ;  and  I  have  found  that  the  lof  mm.  of  their  measure- 
ment (Mr.  Bacon's  \o\  mm.)  varies  somewhat  from  a  small  lof  mm.  to  a 
good  II  mm.,  mainly  owing,  I  think,  to  the  thickness  of  printing.  When  we 
begin  to  discuss  the  differences  of  \  mm.,  one  has  not  much  to  go  upon  ; 
nevertheless,  I  have  found  three  distinct  variations  of  length.  Measuring  the 
bottom  of  the  surcharge,  I  have  found  9J,  10-^-,  and  io|  mm.  My  9^  and 
10^-  mm.  are  distinguished  from  one  another  just  in  the  same  way  as 
Mr.  Bacon's  and  Messrs.  Stanley  Gibbons'  measurements,  by  the  "  O "  of 
"One"  and  "P"  of  "Penny"  being  taller  than  the  other  letters;  but  my 
lof  mm.  measurement  is  altogether  another  stamp,  the  letters  are  always 
even,  and  the  measurement  of  the  surcharge  "One  Penny"  is  never  less  than 
lof  mm.,  and  varies  even  up  to  11  mm. 

Calling  the  measurement  9^  mm.  A,  \o\  mm.  B,  and  loj  mm.  C,  and  the 
word  "  POSTAGE "  measuring  3f  mm.  in  height  Type  I.,  and  the  word 
"postage"  measuring  2\  mm.  in  height  Type  II.,  my  synopsis  of  these 
surcharges  is  : — 

I.  The  word  "Postage"  ivritten  across  the  stamp  with  pen  and  ink. 

A.  The  words  "One  Penny  "  measure  9^  mm. 

The  word  "  Postage  "  written  across  the  stamp  with  pen  and  black  or 
red  ink. 
C.  The  words  "One  Penny"  measure  lof  mm. 

II.  With  surcharge  3I  mm.  in  height  (Type  I.). 

A.  The  words  "One  Penny"  measure  9^  mm. 

"  |d."  black  surcharge  on  the  two  halves  of  id.,  green  on  orange. 
"  id."  „  id.,  green  on  orange. 

B.  The  words  "One  Penny"  measure  io\  mm.,  and  the  letters  "O"  of 

"  One  "  and  "  P  "  of  "  Penny  "  taller. 
"  |d."  black  surcharge  on  the  two  halves  of  id.,  green  on  orange. 
"  id."  „  id.,  green  on  orange. 

C.  The  words  "One  Penny,"  measure  lof  mm. 

"  id."  black  surcharge  on  id.,  green  on  orange. 

IIP.  With  surcharge  2\  mm.  in  height  (Type  II.). 

A.  The  words  "  One  Penny  "  measure  9^  mm. 

"  |d."  black  surcharge  on  the  two  halves  of  id.,  green  on  orange. 

B.  The  words  "One  Penny"  measure   \o\  mm.,  and  the  letters  "O"  of 

"  One  "  and  "  P  "  of  "  Penny  "  taller. 
"  |-d."  black  surcharge  on  the  two  halves  of  id.,  green  on  orange. 

C.  The  words  "One  Penny"  measure  io|  mm. 

"  |d."  black  surcharge  on  the  two  halves  of  id.,  green  on  orange. 

I  possess  specimens  of  all  these  types  except  the  Jd.  of  III.  B,  which  is 
in  Baron  A.  de  Reuterskiold's  collection. 

The  word  "  POSTAGE "  is  usually  very  evenly  printed,  but  I  possess  a 
specimen  where  "  TAGE "  is  printed  lower  than  the  other  letters ;  and  the 
whole  word  is  sometimes  doubly  printed. 


314  SOME  REMARKS   ON   THE  STAMPS   OF  GRENADA. 

Issue  1883.     De  La  Rue  Type. 

This  issue,  engraved  by  Messrs.  De  La  Rue  &  Co.,  on  paper  watermarked 
Crown  CA,  has  been  the  subject  of  an  article  in  Lc  Moniteur  Philatelique, 
of  Ghent,  Belgium,  by  Mons.  E.  Dmalexemma.  He  possesses  a  half-sheet 
of  the  6d.,  and  explains  three  types,  the  third  being  much  the  rarer,  occurring 
only  seven  times  in  the  half-sheet  of  sixty,  the  other  two  types  being  pretty 
equal.  His  types  are  dominated  by  the  position  of  the  letter  "e"  of 
"postage"  above,  and  the  letter  "e"  of  "PENCE"  below,  to  the  diamonds 
in  the  upright  straight  labels  of  solid  colour  at  the  sides  of  the  stamps.  Li 
Type  L  the  letter  "e"  comes  just  up  to  the  diamonds;  in  Type  H.  the 
letter  "e"  ends  over  the  diamonds;  and  in  Type  HI.  the  letter  "E"  comes 
almost  to  the  end  of  the  space.  This  is  of  very  little  interest,  and  I  have 
seen  it  for  a  long  time  not  only  in  the  6d.,  but  also  in  all  the  other  values. 
It  is  simply  a  matter  of  centring  of  the  inscriptions  in  the  white  spaces 
provided  for  them.  If  the  words  be  properly  centred,  for  example,  above, 
"  GRENADA  POSTAGE "  would  begin  over  the  diamonds  on  one  side,  and 
finish  over  the  diamonds  on  the  other  ;  a  little  deviation  either  way  would 
give  types  enough.  This  can  be  found  in  all  stamps  where  the  words  are 
not  engraved  on  the  plate,  and  so,  I  consider,  not  worthy  of  attention. 

Provisionals,  1886  to  1890. 

Of  these  I  have  remarked  that  the  Issue  "id."  on  i^d.,  and  "id."  on 
IS.,  are  on  paper  watermarked  Large  Star  upright.  The  "id."  on  4d.  is 
catalogued  by  Messrs.  Stanley  Gibbons  as  on  paper  watermarked  Small 
Star.  I  regret  to  say  I  have  been  unable  to  verify  this,  as  the  watermarks 
of  the  stamps  I  have  examined  have  been  almost  impossible  to  trace.  The 
other  issues,  with  the  various  values  —  "HALF  PENNY  POSTAGE,"  "id." 
between  "POSTAGE  AND  REVENUE,"  "  id."  below  "POSTAGE  AND  REVENUE," 
and  "4d.  postage" — are  on  paper  watermarked  Small  Star  sideways. 

There  is  one  variety  common  to  all  the  surcharges  of  2s. — namely,  a 
wider  space  between  "  Two "  and  "  Shillings,"  first  pointed  out  to  me  by 
Mr.  Giwelb.  Another  variety  in  the  "id."  between  "POSTAGE  AND 
REVENUE,"  and  the  "4d. "  on  2s.,  is  the  letter  "T"  of  "Two"  lower  than 
the  other  letters.  This  variety  probably  exists  on  the  other  two  surcharges. 
The  variety  with  the  straight  or  Roman  "  d "  is  catalogued  by  Messrs. 
Collin  &  Caiman  as  being  the  end  stamp  of  the  sheet.  My  specimens  prove 
this  not  to  be  so. 

Of  the  1892  Issue,  "2|d."  surcharged  on  8  Pence,  I  have  an  entire  sheet. 
It  is  printed  tctc-bcclie,  and  it  presents  two  varieties  of  the  "  2  "  in  the  "  2"  ";  in 
the  upper  half  of  the  sheet  the  "2"  has  a  curly  head,  and  in  the  lower  half 
of  the  sheet  the  head  is  straighten 

No.  23  on  the  sheet  has  a  comma  instead  of  a  period  after  the  letter  "  d." 

No.  54  has  a  third  line  under  the  figure  "2  "  of  "  i." 

No.  60  has  two  short  thin  lines  under  the  "  2  "  of  "  ^." 

This  stamp  also  exists  with  a  double  surcharge,  one  inverted  over  the 
value  "  8  Pence." 


THE   STAMPS   OF  BRITISH  EAST  AFRICA    AND  ZANZIBAR.       315 

With  this  issue  I  terminate  my  remarks  on  the  stamps  of  Grenada ;  but 
before  I  finish  I  should  Hke  to  point  out  two  curious  coincidences  which  have 
presented  themselves  to  me  long-  after  I  had  tabulated  my  facts. 

In  the  early  issues  of  1864  and  1865  I  have  placed  those  stamps  with 
wmk.  Small  Star  upright  first,  those  with  Large  Star  the  second,  and  those 
with  Small  Star  sideways  third.  Examine  the  provisionals  of  1883,  1886, 
and  1888-90.  The  stamps  of  1883  have  wmk.  Small  Star  upright,  those 
of  1886  Large  Star,  those  of  1888-90  Small  Star  sideways. 

Again,  in  Issue  IV.,  1865,  the  stamps  of  the  lower  value,  id.,  arc  on  paper 
wmk.  Large  Star  sideivays ;  the  higher  value,  6d.,  on  paper  wmk.  Large  Star 
upright.  Examine  the  issue  of  1881.  The  lower  value,  "  ^d.,"  surcharge  is 
on  paper  wmk.  Large  Star  sideways  ;  the  higher  values,  "  2|d."  and  "4d.,"  on 
paper  wmk.  Large  Star  upright. 

Are  these  simply  coincidences,  or  are  they  an  effort  of  the  printers  to 
guard  against  forgery  .■' 

Mr.  L.  L.  R.  Hausburg,  who  is  now  travelling  round  the  world,  has  sent 
us  one  or  two  comments  on  Dr.  Stanley  Taylor's  able  paper,  as  follows : 

"  I  do  not  quite  agree  with  some  of  Dr.  Taylor's  remarks  and  division  into  issues. 
For  instance,  he  divides  into  three  classes  the  id.  and  6d.  with  Small  Star;  viz., 
XL,  those  with  blind  perfs.,  Star  upright;  III.,  Small  Star  upright,  perfs.  cleaner  cut; 
VI.,  Small  Star  sideways,  perfs.  cleaner  cut.  His  reason  for  putting  these  so  late  is 
that  the  earhest  postmark  he  has  found  is  1879. 

"  He  omits  altogether  the  Small  Star  sideways,  rough  perfs.,  of  which  I  have  several; 
and  I  have  found  a  id.,  Star  sideways,  of  his  Issue  VI.,  dated  1873. 

"  My  own  idea  is  that  there  should  be  two  instead  of  three  separate  issues. 

"  I.    id.  and  6d.,  blind  perfs.,  Small  Star  upright  and  sideways. 

"  2.   id.  and  6d.,  perfs.  cleaner  cut.  Small  Star  upright  and  sideways. 

"  This  seems  to  me  a  more  reasonable  arrangement,  as  those  with  blind  perfs.  are 
evidently  the  earlier. 

"He  also  lays  stress  on  the  ^d.,  black  on  mauve,  1881,  having  wmk.  Large  Star 
sideways.     I  have  found  three  copies  with  Star  upright. ' 


t  Stamps  of  §i'ilislj  ®ast  %{x\Vi[  antr  lanjibar. 

an 
at 
Zanzibar,  and  also  tables  of  the  various  numbers  of  stamps 
.^^^^^.^^^^  overprinted.  Mr.  Bowden  made  out  a  good  case  as  regards 
S7  the  postal  necessity  for  the  very  numerous  issues  that  have 
emanated  from  this  quarter  of  the  world,  and  it  must  be  borne  in  mind 
that,  as  Mr.  Remington  observes,  the  very  existence  of  the  large  demand 
for  stamps  by  collectors  and  dealers  occasionally  exhausts  the  Post  Office 
stock  in  an  unexpected  manner,  and  thus  itself  causes  a  necessity  for  a  tem- 
porary issue. 


3i6       THE   STAMPS   OF  BRITISH  EAST  AFRICA   AND  ZANZIBAR. 

The  uneasiness  as  to  these  redundant  new  issues  felt  by  collectors  has 
also  afifected  the  trade,  who  have  large  capitals  involved,  and  Messrs.  Stanley 
Gibbons,  Limited,  took  the  bull  by  the  horns  and  wrote  to  Sir  A.  Hardinge, 
Her  Majesty's  Agent  and  Consul-General  at  Zanzibar,  and  in  reply  were 
directly  authorized  by  the  Marquis  of  Salisbury,  under  date  October  19th 
last,  to  publish  the  following  extracts  received  at  the  Foreign  Office  from 
Mr.  Remington  : 

"According  to  your  instructions  I  have  the  honour  to  submit  the  following 
explanation  with  regard  to  the  overprinting  and  surcharging  the  East  Africa  and 
Zanzibar  Protectorates'  stamps. 

"When  it  was  known  that  the  Imperial  Government  had  decided  to  take  over  the 
territory  of  the  late  British  East  Africa  Company,  I  thought  it  quite  possible  that  the 
question  of  supplying  stamps  might  be  overlooked ;  and  in  order  to  avoid,  as  far  as 
possible,  any  inconvenience  to  the  public  this  would  result  in,  I  wrote  to  the  late 
Company  asking  for  a  large  supply  of  stamps.  The  reply  I  received  was  to  the  effect 
that  the  stock  in  Mombasa  was  sufficient  for  the  remainder  of  the  time  the  Com- 
pany would  hold  the  territory,  and  that  they  declined  to  send  me  any  more. 

"  My  surmise  proved  to  be  correct,  and  I  had  only  the  small  supply  of  stamps  on 
hand  on  the  ist  of  July,  1895,  the  date  of  the  transfer  of  the  territory,  as  shown 
on  inclosed  list,  to  carry  on  with,  and  out  of  this  supply  I  had  to  forward  736  of  each 
value  to  the  General  Post  Office,  London,  as  specimens.  This  supply  was  not 
sufficient  for  one  month's  requirements,  and  when  it  is  remembered  it  was  not  until 
the  19th  May,  1896,  ten  months  after  the  date  of  transfer,  that  the  first  supply  of  the 
present  permanent  issue  of  the  Protectorate's  stamps  was  received,  some  idea  may  be 
formed  as  to  the  very  great  difficulty  and  inconvenience  I  was  put  to  in  endeavouring 
to  meet  the  public  requirements. 

"On  the  loth  November,  1895,  the  Zanzibar  Government  took  over  the  Indian 
Post  Office  at  Zanzibar,  and  with  it  the  stock  of  Indian  stamps  on  hand.  By  this 
time  the  East  Africa  Protectorate's  stamps  were  naturally  all  but  exhausted,  and  when 
I  pointed  out  to  the  Acting  Consul-General  (Mr.  Cave)  the  absolute  necessity  of 
supplying  stamps  to  the  East  Africa  Protectorate  until  the  arrival  of  the  permanent 
issue,  it  was  decided  to  request  permission  of  the  Director-General  of  the  Indian  Post 
Office  to  use  part  of  the  Indian  stamps  on  hand  in  Zanzibar,  and  overprint  them 
'British  East  Africa.'  This  permission  was  kindly  granted,  and  so  the  difficulty  of 
supplying  the  East  Africa  Protectorate  with  stamps  was,  for  the  time,  overcome. 

"Unfortunately,  however,  the  late  Postmaster  of  the  Indian  Post  Office  at 
Zanzibar  had  run  short  of  2\  annas  stamps;  2354  was  the  exact  number  handed 
over,  and  this  ridiculously  small  quantity  had  to  be  shared  between  Zanzibar  and  the 
East  Africa  Protectorate.  This  quantity  not  being  sufficient  for  even  a  week's  supply, 
it  therefore  follows  that  it  was  absolutely  necessary  to  issue  a  provisional  2%  anna 
stamp  for  both  territories,  and  the  i\  anna  stamps,  being  the  largest  of  any  value 
taken  over,  were  surcharged. 

"  During  this  time  the  Zanzibar  Government,  not  previously  having  made  any 
provision  for  its  permanent  issue  of  stamps,  was  in  correspondence  with  the  stamp 
contractors  as  to  design,  price,  &c.  On  the  loth  April,  1896,  the  contractors  wrote 
stating  my  instructions  were  perfectly  clear,  and  that  it  would  be  fully  three  months 
before  the  stamps  could  be  shipped.  This  letter  I  acknowledged,  and  requested  to 
be  supplied  with  the  stamps  as  soon  as  possible.  On  28th  August  the  contractors, 
notwithstanding  the  letters  referred  to  above,  wrote  regretting  the  death  of  His 
Highness  the  late  Sultan  of  Zanzibar,  and  asked  for  further  instructions.     On  receipt 


THE   STAMPS   OF  BRITISff  EAST  AFRICA   AND  ZAXZIBAR.       317 

of  their  letter  I  immediately  telegraphed  them  to  send  stamps  immediately,  but  the 
failure  on  the  part  of  the  contractors  to  supply  the  stamps  at  the  time  stated  again 
caused  me  considerable  difficulty  in  meeting  the  demand,  and  I  was  compelled,  after 
consulting  Sir  Lloyd  Mathews,  to  issue  provisional  stamps. 

"As  neither  the  P^ast  Africa  Protectorate  nor  the  Zanzibar  Government  had  made 
any  provision  whatever  to  supply  any  postage  stamps  on  the  date  of  the  transfer  of 
the  respective  Post  Offices,  I  was  placed  in  the  very  awkward  position  of  having  to 
manage  as  best  I  could  with  one  month's  supply  of  stamps  taken  over  from  the  late 
Company  for  nine  months  and  a  half  for  the  East  Africa  Protectorate,  and  a  totally 
inadequate  supply  of  stamps  taken  over  from  the  Indian  Post  Office  to  be  shared 
between  the  two  Protectorates  for  twelve  months  pending  the  supply  of  the  permanent 
issue  for  each  Protectorate. 

"  It  is  entirely  owing  to  this  that  it  has  been  absolutely  necessary  to  issue  pro- 
visional stamps,  and  to  my  endeavours  to  eke  out  my  stocks  in  the  face  of  an 
exceptionally  heavy  demand  for  stamps  from  dealers  and  collectors,  pending  the 
arrival  of  the  permanent  issues. 

"  In  addition  to  this,  I  would  also  beg  to  state  that  one  consignment  of  stamps  lay 
at  Aden  more  than  a  month,  it  having  missed  the  steamer  from  Aden  to  Zanzibar, 
also  that  another  case  of  stamps  was  over-carried  by  the  Messageries  Maritimes 
Company  to  Madagascar,  which  also  involved  a  month's  delay  in  receipt  at  Zanzibar. 

"  Had  it  not  been  for  the  kindness  of  the  Director-General  of  the  Indian  Post 
Office  in  allowing  the  Protectorates  to  overprint  and  use  Indian  stamps  as  well  as 
supplying  them,  I  should  not  have  been  able  to  meet  the  difficulty  as  successfully  as  I 
think  I  have  done.  Had  the  Director-General  declined  to  supply  the  Protectorates 
with  Indian  stamps,  there  would  not  have  been  a  single  stamp  of  the  East  Africa 
Protectorate  to  be  obtained  from  October,  1895,  to  May,  1896,  or  one  Zanzibar 
stamp  in  existence  until  twelve  months  after  the  transfer  of  the  Indian  Post  Office  to 
the  Zanzibar  Government. 

"  Now  the  permanent  issue  of  stamps  both  for  the  East  Africa  and  Zanzibar 
Protectorates  can  be  obtained,  I  am  glad  to  say  that  no  further  need  of  issuing 
provisional  stamps  will  occur. 

"As  regards  the  various  types  used,  this  is  a  matter  that  is  entirely  out  of  my 
hands.  The  stamps  had  to  be  overprinted  and  surcharged,  and  the  only  place  to  get 
this  done  in  Zanzibar  is  at  the  Zanzibar  Gazette  Office.  The  staff  of  printers  at  the 
Gazette  Office  is  entirely  composed  of  natives,  who,  I  suppose,  do  not  understand  the 
importance,  from  the  stamp  dealer's  point  of  view,  of  the  least  difference  in  type,  and 
their  plant  and  appliances  being  very  limited,  they  did  the  best  they  could  under  the 
circumstances. 

"  I  quite  readily  admit  that  had  I  had  the  knowledge  a  year  ago  that  I  now  have 
of  the  enormous  demand  for  stamps  by  dealers  and  collectors,  over  and  above  those 
required  for  purely  postal  purposes,  the  necessity  for  one  or  two  provisional  issues 
might  have  been  avoided ;  but,  as  I  have  already  stated,  I  had  no  means  of  knowing 
this  beforehand. 

"In  proof  of  this,  in  my  estimate  of  stamp  sales  for  1896-7  for  British  East 
Africa,  I  estimated  Rs.  25,777 — whereas  the  actual  quantity  sold  was  Rs.  62,800,  and 
my  estimate  for  Zanzibar  was  for  Rs.  36,000 — whereas  the  actual  quantity  sold  was 
Rs.  70,547." 


[      3i8      j 


a^e 


E  have  received  the  following  appeal  to  support  the 
objects  of  this  Society,  which  we  venture  to  cordially 
recommend  to  our  readers.  It  will  be  seen  that  the 
subscription  is  a  nominal  one,  the  object  being  to  have 
a  wide  circle  of  supporters  ;  and  we  trust  that  the 
majority  of  our  readers  will  hasten  to  enrol  themselves 
as  members  of  an  Association  founded  wholly  and  solely  for  the  benefit 
and  security  of  Philately. 

"Effingham  House, 

"Arundel  Street,  Strand, 

"London,  W.C. 

"  Cljc  Sodctn  for  tbc  5xt|i|3rcssion  of  .Sjjcculatibe  Stamp. 

"  Dear  Sir, — As  no  doubt  you  may  have  seen  in  the  Philatelic  journals,  the 
Society  has  been  entirely  reorganised.  The  Special  Committee  of  the  Philatelic 
Society,  London,  has  been  entrusted  with  the  work  of  considering  all  unnecessary 
and  speculative  issues,  and  the  results  of  their  deliberations  will  be  notified 
periodically  in  the  various  Philatelic  publications  throughout  the  world.  In  order 
that  the  work  of  the  Society  may  be  carried  on  with  vigour,  and  receive  the  support 
of  all  Philatelists,  it  has  been  decided  to  reduce  the  subscription  to  2S.  6d.  (3  fr.) 
per  annum.  It  is  therefore  hoped  that  with  this  small  subscription  a  large  number 
of  members  may  be  enrolled  to  assist  in  maintaining  the  purity  of  stamp  collecting. 
I  trust,  therefore,  you  will  continue  your  membership  (if  already  a  member),  or,  in 
case  you  are  not  a  member  of  the  Society,  that  I  may  have  the  pleasure  of  adding 
your  name  to  the  list. 

"Subscriptions  may  be  paid  by  postal  order,  or  in  the  permanent  current  stamps 
of  any  country,  and  will  cover  the  period  ending  31st  December,  1898. 

"  I  am,  dear  sir, 

"  Yours  faithfully, 

"  Herbert  R.  Oldfield, 

"Hon.  Sec.  and  Treasurer." 

FORM    OF    APPLICATION    FOR    MEMBERSHIP. 

Please  enrol  vie  as  a  member  of  the  Society  for  the  Suppression  of  Speculative 
Stamps,  for  which  puipose  I  enclose  the  amount  of  my  subscription  (2s.  6d.)  for 
the  year  iSg8. 

Name 


Address . 


The  Hon.  Secretary, 
The  Society  for  the  Suppression  of  Speculative  Stamps, 
The  Philatelic  Society,  London, 
Effingham  House, 

Arundel  Street,  Strand,  London,  W.C. 


THE  S.S.S.S.  3 '9 

Circular  No.  6. 

Cl^e  §octet])  for  i\t  .^uprcssion  of  Sj^cculatibe  Stamps. 

President — Mr.  M.  P.  Castle,  J.  P.  |  Vice-President— lAh}OV.  Evans. 

Hon.  Secretary  ks'  Treasurer— Vi\K.  II.  R.  Oldfiei.d. 
Effingham  House,  Arundel  Street,  Strand,  London,  W.C. 

Committee  of  Genei-al  Management — 
Mr.  R.  Ehrenbach.  I  Mr.  J.  A.  Tilleard. 

Mr.  E.  J.  Nankivell.  |  Mr.  Gordon  Smith. 

Notice  is  hereby  given  that  the  Special  Committee  of  the  PhilateHc  Society, 
London,  having  taken  into  consideration  the  undermentioned  issues,  are  of  opinion 
that  the  same  are  speculative  or  unnecessary. 

In  making  public  the  above  opinion  this  Society  recommends  collectors  to  refuse 
to  purchase  the  undermentioned  stamps,  and  so  assist  the  Society  in  preventing  the 
issue  of  stamps  intended  mainly  for  the  purpose  of  sale  to  collectors  and  speculators. 
This  practice,  if  attended  with  successful  results,  is  calculated  to  seriously  prejudice 
the  interests  of  all  Philatelists,  and  to  bring  Philately  into  disrepute. 

1.  Canada. — Jubilee  Set. — The  objections  to  these  stamps  are  that  the  set  includes 
high  values  for  which  there  is  no  postal  use,  and  that  certain  of  the  values  were  not 
issued  to  the  public  in  the  regular  way,  and  could  only  be  purchased  in  complete  sets, 
and  not  separately. 

2.  Newfoundland. — Cabot  Issue. — This  was  wholly  unnecessary,  and  did  not 
supersede  the  regular  issue,  the  plates  having  been  destroyed  after  a  limited  number 
of  stamps  had  been  printed. 

3.  New  South  Wales  Hospital  Stamps. — These  were  entirely  unnecessary  for 
postal  purposes,  and  were  only  made  available  in  order  to  induce  collectors  to  buy  at 
enhanced  prices. 

4.  Victoria  Hospital  Stamps. — The  same  remarks  apply  to  this  proposed 
issue. 

5.  Leeward  Islands. — Overprinted  "  Centenary." — This  was  a  temporary  issue 
entirely  unnecessary  for  postal  purposes.  The  remainders  are  being  offered  for  sale 
by  public  tender,  and  as  an  inducement  it  was  officially  stated  that  the  die  used  for 
the  overprinting  had  been  destroyed. 

6.  Mauritius. — Proposed  Jubilee  Issue. — It  is  believed  that  the  usual  objections 
will  apply  to  this  issue.  Collectors  are  advised  to  regard  it  with  suspicion  until  it  has 
been  ascertained  whether  it  is  intended  to  be  of  a  permanent  nature,  or  merely 
commemorative. 

7.  Uruguay. — "Paz"  Issue. — The  stamps  were  available  for  only  three  days  in 
September,  1897,  and  were  not  issued  to  meet  any  postal  requirements. 

8.  British  South  Africa. — An  announcement  having  been  made  that  a  stamp 
in  commemoration  of  the  completion  of  the  railway  as  far  as  Buluwayo  was  to  be 
issued,  the  Committee  are  pleased  to  state  that  the  London  officials  of  the  Company 
have  given  their  assurance  that  no  such  issue  will  be  sanctioned. 

9.  Olympian  Games  Stamps. — The  condition  under  which  these  stamps  have 
been  issued  having  been  modified,  so  that  they  have  now  become  a  permanent  issue, 
the  objections  mentioned  in  a  previous  circular  no  longer  apply. 

By  order  of  the  Committee, 

Herbert  R.  Oldfield, 

N 01  ember,  1897.  Hon.  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 


[         320        ] 


!!)ilalclu  |l0t^s. 


NOTE.^ — The  co-oferalion  of  Philatelists  is  invited  in  order  to  make  this  coliiiim  of  a  variea 

and  interesting  nature. 


DANGEROUS    FORGERIES. 
N  the  issue  of  the  French  Republic  of  1875  the  sheet  of  the  10  c,  bistre 
on  rose,  is  well  known  to  contain  an  error  consisting  of  the  numeral 


"15"  in  lieu  of  "  lO."  This  error  has,  in  sympathy  with  the  great  demand 
for  French  stamps  of  late  years,  greatly  risen  in  value,  and  has  hence 
attracted  the  attention  of  the  forgers  as  affording  a  likely  snare  for  the  un- 
wary. At  the  last  meeting  of  the  Philatelic  Society  of  London  a  pseudo 
pair  of  these  stamps  were  lent  for  inspection,  which  had  remained  the  un- 
suspected possession  of  a  very  well  known  firm  of  dealers  for  a  lengthened 
period.  The  fraud  consisted  in  the  alteration  of  the  two  figures  "  5  "  on  one 
of  the  pair  of  normal  stamps  to  "o,"  and  was  so  well  done  as  to  require 
careful  examination  in  order  to  detect  it.  The  high  values,  i,  4,  and  10 
pesetas  of  the  1874  issue  of  Spain  have  been  known  for  some  considerable 
time  to  leading  collectors  and  dealers,  but  it  would  seem  that  it  is  only  lately 
that  they  are  being  introduced  on  the  market  in  any  quantity.  We  think  it, 
therefore,  well  to  warn  our  readers  against  them,  as  they  are  exceedingly 
well  done.  Their  general  appearance  leaves  nothing  to  be  desired,  and  it  is 
only  when  the  detail  is  carefully  examined  that  the  points  of  divergence 
appear.  The  readiest  test  is  the  small  size  and  bad  drawing  of  the  numerals 
of  value  of  the  forgery,  within  the  white  circle,  containing  the  well-known 
figure  of  Justice. 

DISCOVERIES. 

ICTORIA :   Emblems. — The   variety  chronicled    in    our   last   issue,  with 
impression  on  reverse,  should  be  described  as  with  Star  watermark, 


and  not,  as  inadvertently  stated,  on  no  watermarked  paper. 

With  reference  to  the  other  variety  there  alluded  to,  we  have  pleasure  in 
recording  the  remarks  of  Mr.  David  H.  H.  Hill,  the  well-known  Philatelist 
of  Melbourne,  who  writes  as  under  to  the  Australian  Philatelist,  and 
corroborates  the  opinion  we  expressed  as  to  the  date  of  its  appearance : 

"Many  thanks  for  your  letter  of  the  23rd  instant,  enclosing  Victoria,  Emblems 
(Type  VII.),  watermark  single-line  6,  for  my  inspection.  This  is  as  much  a  novelty  to 
collectors  as  the  6d.  blue,  watermark  double-line  2,  you  unearthed  some  time  ago. 
Comparing  the  watermark  on  the  stamp  you  send  with  others  bearing  the  same 
numeral,  it  looks  a  bit  thin  ;  but,  coming  from  such  a  source,  I  have  no  reason  to 
doubt  its  genuineness,  as  I  find  it  corresponds  in  size  with  other  specimens. 

"The  only  explanation  I  can  offer  to  account  for  this  'error'  is  that  a  sheet  of 
single-line  6  paper  may  accidentally  have  been  placed  with  the  single-line  2  paper  by 
the  storekeeper,  and  issued  for  the  2d.  stamps.      The  single-line  6  paper  was  first 


PHILATELIC  NOTES.  321 

received  in  March,  1863,  and  between  that  date  and  March,  1864,  when  the  2d.  of 
Type  VIII.  became  obsolete,  only  four  printings  were  made,  the  last  being  on  the  17th 
of  February,  1864.  The  stamp  must,  therefore,  have  been  printed  between  those 
dates.  As  the  supply  of  single-line  2  paper  was  not  exhausted  during  this  period, 
there  would  be  no  reason  for  using  any  other  paper  for  the  2d.  stamps,  and  the 
occurrence  of  the  watermark  6  can  only  be  looked  upon  as  accidental.  With  paper 
in  stock  bearing  so  many  different  watermarks,  it  would  no  doubt  be  difficult  to  pre- 
vent a  stray  sheet  or  two  being  placed  on  the  wrong  bundle,  especially  where  the 
paper  was  in  the  custody  of  the  storekeeper,  who  might  not  see  the  necessity  of 
keeping  each  watermark  separate,  so  long  as  he  could  account  for  the  aggregate 
quantity." 

THE    SIERRA    LEONE    5J-.    ON    u.,    GREEN. 

HE  Philatelic  status  of  this  stamp  has  already  been  discussed  in  this 
journal   (see   pages   221,   237,   and   259),   and    Messrs   Whitfield    King 


&  Co.  now  forward  a  further  contribution  to  the  subject  as  follows : 

"St.  Christopher,  W.  I., 

"Messrs.  Whitfield  King  &  Co.  '       "'" 

"  Dear  Sirs, — In  reply  to  your  inquiry,  I  beg  to  say  the  Sierra  Leone  shilling 
green  postage  stamps,  with  the  price  5s.  overprinted  thereon,  were  usable  as  postage 
as  well  as  revenue  stamps.  There  was  nothing  to  indicate  that  they  were  anything  else 
but  postage  stamps,  and  as  such  they  should  be  regarded. 

"  The  circumstance  that  they  were  not  so  used,  except  in  one  or  two  instances,  as 
the  postmaster  of  that  period  has  stated  they  were,  does  not  do  away  with  the  fact  that 
they  were  so  officially  overprinted,  though  they  were  all  subsequently  withdrawn. 

"  Mr.  Campbell  wrote  some  time  afterwards  and  asked  for  information  respecting 
them.  I  regret  that  I  unintentionally  appear  to  have  misled  him,  for  I  said  they  were 
issued  for  fiscal  purposes  only,  which  was  quite  true  as  regarded  the  original  intention 
but  incorrect  as  to  what  they  actually  became,  viz.,  surcharged  postage  stamps. 

"  As  I  knew,  however,  that  not  more  than  a  couple  or  so  had  been  used  postally, 
and  as  Mr.  Campbell  desired  to  purchase  some  of  them  as  postage  stamps  if  any  were 
for  sale,  he  was  informed  they  were  not  for  sale  and  had  been  issued  for  fiscal 

P    P  ^'  "Yours  truly,  T.  R.  Grifp'ith." 

Messrs.  Whitfield  King  &  Co.  write : 

"Mr.  T.  Risely  Griffith,  C.M.G.,  who  was  Colonial  Secretary  of  Sierra  Leone 
when  the  above  stamp  was  issued,  is  now  Administrator  of  St.  Christopher  and  Nevis, 
and  we  wrote  to  him  for  further  information  about  the  stamp  in  question, 
forwarding  him  a  copy  of  Mr.  Campbell's  letter  as  published  in  the  London  Philatelist. 
We  have  to-day  received  the  enclosed  reply,  which  we  shall  be  glad  if  you  will  publish. 
It  now  appears  that  the  stamps  were  originally  intended  to  be  revenue  stamps  only, 
but  were  sold  at  the  post  office  for  both  postage  and  revenue,  and  two  or  three  copies 
only  were  postally  used.  This  should,  in  our  opinion,  establish  their  claim  to  a  place 
in  a  postage  stamp  collection." 

We  must  record  our  opinion  that  no  strong  position  is  made  out  for  them, 
and  at  the  best  these  stamps  are  on  a  par  with  the  8d.  brown  Great  Britain 
or  other  stamps — prepared  for  issue  only. 


322  PHILATELIC  NOTES. 


SIERRA    LEONE    1896    PROVISIONAL    ISSUE. 

R.  W.  L.  Chew  kindly  writes  us  as   follows  : — "  I  enclose  the  copy  of 
a  letter  I  have  received  from   the  acting  Col,  Postmaster- General  of 


Sierra  Leone,  with  reference  to  the  Provisional  Stamps  which  were  issued 
by  that  Colony  last  spring,  which  may  possibly  be  of  interest  to  your 
readers." 

[copy.] 

"General  Post  Office, 

"  Freetown,  Sierra  Leone, 
'^  2^ih   October,   1897. 

"Sir, — In  compliance  with  the  request  contained  in  your  note  of  the  8th  inst., 
I  furnish  hereunder  the  information  asked  for  in  regard  to  the  issue  of  stamps  of  this 
Colony,  surcharged  '  postage  and  revenue  '  in  sheets  of  120  stamps. 

240  sheets  issued  and  sold  of  Revenue   id.,  surcharged  '  postage  and  revenue.' 

74         )>  >>  >>  i>  S'^"  >'  " 

98  ')  !i  »  '!  ^d-  >»  " 

352       •'  "  "  "  ^^'  "  " 

2         ..  ,,  ,,  ,,  25.  ,,  , 

Also  surcharged  2|d. 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  be.  Sir, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"  (Signature  illegible), 
"Acting  Col.  Postmaster  General." 


U.S.    OF  COLOMBIA,    1863  ISSUE. 

R.  MiCHELSEN,  formerly  resident  in  Bogota,  but  of  latter  years  in  Ham- 
burg, has  contributed  to  the  columns  of  a  Continental  contemporary 
the  commencement  of  an  article  on  the  stamps  of  this  country  that,  judging 
from  his  lengthened  experience  therein,  should  be  of  much  interest.  In 
referring  to  the  issue  of  1863 — the  octagonal-shape  stamps  without  any 
solid  background — Dr.  Michelsen  alludes  to  the  scarcity  of  the  50  c,  error  of 
colour,  in  red  in  lieu  of  green  ;  and  stating  that  he  has  never  seen  or  heard  of 
an  unsevered  pair,  expresses  his  inability  to  say  how  the  error  arose,  whether 
from  a  misplaced  clidic,  or  from  a  sheet  printed  in  the  wTong  colour.  We  are 
able  to  enlighten  our  friend  on  this  point,  as  in  the  Tapling  Collection  there 
is  an  unused  vertical  pair,  the  50  c.  above,  and  the  20  c.  below  ;  and  also  a 
horizontal  used  strip  of  three,  the  left-hand  specimen  being  a  50  c.  and  the 
remaining  two  20  c;  the  latter  bears  as  a  postmark  "  Rio  Negro,"  in  blue  ink. 
These  very  interesting  and  apparently  practically  unique  specimens  indicate 
that  the  50  c.  red  arises  from  a  misplaced  cliche  in  the  sheet  of  the  20  c.  red. 
The  converse  error,  20  c.  green — as  Dr.  Michelsen  justly  observes — does  not 
exist :  it  was  well  hunted  over  in  olden  days  by  us  all,  but  nothing  beyond 
the  woolly -looking  reprint  was  to  be  discovered.  It  will  be  remembered 
that  Dr.  Michelsen  showed  his  very  fine  collection  of  Colombian  stamps, 
including  many  entire  sheets,  gaining  a  silver  medal,  at  the  London  Philatelic 
Exhibition, 


[      323      ] 


#aa;si0nal  l^oles. 


TRADE    COMMENT    ON  SPECULATIVE    ISSUES. 

E  have  pleasure  in  presenting  the  views  on  speculative  issues  of  a  well- 
known  member  of  the  Stamp  Trade,  from  which  it  will  be  seen  that, 
even  with  those  dealers  who  feel  themselves  unable  to  belong  to  the  S.S.S.S., 
there  is  a  strong  feeling  of  sympathy  with  the  Society  in  its  endeavour 
to  prevent  rubbish  being  foisted  upon  collectors.  With  regard  to  the  Greek 
Olympian  Stamps  it  must  be  remembered  that  at  the  outset  this  Issue  was 
distinctly  stated  to  be  commemorative,  and  it  was  also  understood  that  it 
was  of  a  temporary  nature.  It  has,  however,  remained  continuously  in  use, 
and  the  ban  originally  placed  upon  it  by  the  S.S.S.S.  would  naturally  have 
long  since  been  removed  had  the  Society  continued  its  active  operations. 
An  article  in  the  London  Philatelist,  so  far  back  as  May,  1896,  explicitly 
states  that  the  conditions  of  issue  had  been  altered,  and  that  the  Society 
would  wisely  reconsider  its  excommunication.  We  have,  however,  good 
reason  to  believe  that,  had  it  not  been  for  the  existence  of  the  S.S.S.S.,  this 
Olympian  Issue  would  have  been  as  skilfully  cornered  and  as  limited  in 
issue  as  other  recent  glaring  examples. 

"With  regard  to  Jubilee  Issues  generally,  if  the  occasion  is  a  national  one  of 
sufficient  importance,  there  will  always  be  a  demand  for  the  stamps  in  the  country  of 
issue  by  non-Philatelists,  and  I  don't  think  the  S.S.S.S.  can  stop  them,  though  they 
may  be  able  to  restrict  the  sale  in  this  country.  Then  you  have  the  vast  army 
of  unattached  collectors  who  belong  to  no  society,  and  perhaps  take  in  no  Philatelic 
papers ;  many  of  these  will  buy  the  Jubilee  Issues  if  the  dealers  will  import  them.  I 
hope  the  S.S.S.S.  will  not  condemn  any  issues  without  satisfactory /rti^?/" of  their  specula- 
tive nature.  You  would  have  condemned  the  French  Zanzibars  without  evidence) 
simply  from  their  appearance,  and  from  the  fact  of  the  varieties  being  somewhat 
numerous.  On  such  grounds  as  these  you  might  also  condemn  the  whole  of  the 
type-set  and  surcharged  British  Guianas,  and  all  the  surcharged  Transvaals. 

"I  shall  always  do  all  I  can  to  expose  worthless  issues,  but  I  intend  to  act  indepen- 
dently, as  I  always  have  done,  and  shall  sell  any  stamps  which  in  my  opinion  have 
been  condemned  unjustly  or  unreasonably,  and  I  don't  think  you  can  blame  me  for 
this.  Both  the  issues  about  which  I  differed  from  the  S.S.S.S.  are  at  this  moment  in  use, 
which  proves  that  I  was  right.  I  refer  to  the  Greek  Olympian  Games  and  the  Borneo 
surcharges  on  the  dollar  stamps,  which  are  still  the  ones  used  for  International 
Postage. 

"  I  have  been  instrumental  in  exposing  many  bogus  and  unnecessary  issues — a 
reference  to  the  Circulars  issued  by  the  S.S.S.S.  proves  this — and  I  would  co-operate 
with  the  new  Society  to  put  down  rubbish ;  but  I  broke  off  from  the  old  one  because 
they  were  drifting  into  condemning  legitimate  issues,  for  which  there  was  a  great 
demand  (I  refer  especially  to  the  Greek  Olympian  Games),  and  I  did  not  consider  that 
I  could  consistently  remain  a  member  and  sell  the  tabooed  stamps  at  the  same  time, 
though  I  know  of  more  than  one  member  who  did. 
71a 


324 


OCCASIONAL   NOTES. 


"  Quite  recently  I  exposed  the  shady  speculation  of  the  36  c.  on  45  c.  Seychelles, 
and  when  I  have  direct  evidence,  not  hearsay  or  guesswork,  of  anything  of  that  kind, 
I  shall  not  hesitate  to  make  it  public  for  the  benefit  of  Philately.  I  have  had  several 
letters  from  Rhodesia  offering  to  send  me  the  Railway  Stamps  when  issued,  but 
I  don't  intend  to  deal  in  them,  nor  in  any  of  the  Australian  '  disease '  stamps.  Of 
the  Leeward  Islands  'Sexagenary'  Stamps  I  only  imported  four  sets,  one  for  my  collec- 
tion (I  take  everything — good  and  bad)  and  three  to  oblige  customers.  I  have  been 
offered  nearly  all  the  Morocco  locals  at  discounts  varying  from  10  to  25  per  cent, 
under  face  for  quantities,  but  I  only  sell  those  of  Tangier-Fez  and  Mazagan- 
Marrakesh,  which  I  believe  to  be  the  only  thoroughly  legitimate  ones  in  Morocco.  I 
only  mention  this  to  show  you  that  I  am  as  much  against  really  speculative  issues  as 
you  can  be,  but  a  dealer  who  has  agents  and  correspondents  on  the  spot  is  better  able 
to  discriminate  than  those  whose  business  consists  entirely  in  buying  and  selling 
collections." 


THE    EXPERT   COMMITTEE— CHANGE    OF  ADDRESS. 

Ie  have  to  call  the  attention  of  Philatelists  to  the  new  arrangement 
made  by  this  Committee,  by  which  stamps  for  examination  by  the 
Expert  Committee  of  the  London  Philatelic  Society  should  be  addressed  in 
future  to  "The  Expert  Committee,  London  Philatelic  Society,  Effingham 
House,  Arundel  Street,  Strand,  London,  W.C,"  instead  of  to  Major  Evans  as 
hitherto.  The  fee — 2s.  6d.  for  a  single  stamp,  or  2s.  each  for  two  or  more 
sent  together — must  as  hitherto  in  all  cases  accompany  the  stamps. 

With  the  object  of  diminishing  the  extensive  calls  upon  the  time  of  its 
members,  the  Committee  have  been  compelled  to  modify  some  of  the 
arrangements,  and  in  addition  to  the  above  the  Committee  will  in  future 
make  their  examination  once  a  week  only.  Collectors  should,  therefore,  send 
specimens  to  Effingham  House  at  the  end  of  each  week  for  examination  on 
the  following  Monday. 


ENGLISH  STAMPS   AT    THE    LONDON  PHILATELIC  EXHIBITION. 


R.  L'ESTRANGE  EwEN,  whose  labours  in  the  popularization  of  our 
own  stamps  are  generally  recognized  and  appreciated,  has  been  at  the 
pains  in  the  English  Specialists  Journal  to  tabulate  the  pieces  de  resistance  at 
the  recent  Exhibition.  It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  Mr.  Eliot  Levy's  fine 
collection  was  not  available  for  inspection,  not  being  on  movable  leaves. 
Statistics  are  notoriously  unreliable,  however,  and  English  stamps  want 
weighing  as  well  as  counting ! 


White. 

WiLLETT. 

Selby. 

Total 

Id.,  black 

79 

9 

15 

103 

Id.,  black,  V.R. 

8 

4 

5 

17 

Id.,  L.C.,  16    . 

14 

4 

8 

26 

2d.,  no  lines    . 

13 

10 

10 

33 

2d.,  S.C,  16    . 

3 

4 

2 

9 

2d.,  S.C,  14    . 

22 

4 

2 

28 

2d.,  L.C.,  16,  Plate  5      . 

2 

I 

I 

4 

2d.,  L.C.,  16,  Plate  6     . 

I 

3 

— 

4 

IS.,  oclagonal 

20 

16 

3 

39 

OCCASIONAL  NOTES. 


325 


White. 

WiLlETT. 

Selbv. 

Total. 

lod.,  octagonal 

26 

18 

13 

57 

6d.,  octagonal 

31 

18 

10 

59 

4d.,  Small  Garter 

4 

5 

2 

II 

4d.,  Medium  Garter,  on  azure 

3 

2    , 

— 

5 

4d.,  Medium  Garter,  on  white 

6 

3 

3 

12 

4d.,  Large  Garter 

28 

II 

12 

51 

4d.,  Plate  10   . 

9 

I 

7 

17 

6d.,  Plate  6,  Emblems   . 

8 

I 

7 

16 

8d.,  brown 

II 

I 

I 

13 

9d.,  Plate  4,  Emblems   . 

9 

2 

6 

17 

lod.,  Plate  I,  Spray 

32 

6 

7 

45 

2s.,  blue 

25 

8 

II 

44 

2s.,  brown 

21 

2 

4 

27 

5s.,  Wmk.  Cross 

II 

4 

10 

25 

los.,  Wmk.  Cross 

4 

2 

3 

9 

£\,  Wmk.  Cross 

3 

2 

2 

7 

5s.,  Wmk.  Anchor 

7 

2 

3 

12 

los.,  Wmk.  Anchor 

2 

2 

I 

5 

^i,   Wmk.  Anchor 

2 

I 

3 

PRESENTATION  TO   THE   TAP  LING  COLLECTION. 

N   addition   to  the  several   donations  announced    last    month,  we   are 
pleased  to  add  the  following — with  keen  regret  that  so  distinguished 
and  illustrious  a  Philatelist  as  the  donor  should  have  passed  away — 

Russia.— Eight  proofs  of  the  5  k.  and  7  k.  stamps  of  1864  and   1879.— 
The  late  Grand  Duke  Alexis  Michailowitch  of  Russia. 


THE  POST  OFFICE  MAURITIUS. 

HE  recent  sale  of  the  two  specimens  from  Dr.  Legrand's  collection, 
at  such  an  enormous  price  as  ;^I920,  elicited  many  enquiries  as  to 
the  number  of  copies  known,  and  how  far  the  number  justifies  the  figure. 
The  specimens  known  are,  we  believe,  nearly,  if  not  quite,  twenty,  and  it  is 
obvious  that  with  this  quantity  these  stamps  are  not  so  rare  as  others  that 
could  be  named — it  is  their  prestige  that  has  made,  and  always  will  make 
them  the  "king  and  queen  of  stamps."  They  will  celebrate  their  fifty  years 
jubilee  next  year — possibly  by  selling  for  over  ^lOOO  apiece!  In  this 
country  there  are  one  of  each  value  in  the  Tapling  Collection  and  that 
of  Mr.  W.  B.  Avery.  A  collector  in  Austria  is  credited  with  the  pair,  and 
there  are,  to  our  belief,  one  or  two  specimens  in  other  portions  of  the  globe. 
Almost  all  have,  however,  emanated  from  France,  and  there  it  is  that  the 
most  copies  remain.  Herr  von  Ferrary  has  four  copies — two  of  each,  M. 
J.  Bernichon  holds  Dr.  Legrand's  two ;  another  well-known  collector  has  the 
like ;  and  the  Gazette  Timbrologiqtie  states  that  one  recently-found  specimen 
of  the  id.  is  held  in  Bordeaux,  and  that  two  copies  of  the  2d.  were  sold 
in  Paris  some  years  since.  This  would  possibly  include  the  specimen  of 
the  2d.,  blue,  on  original  letter  that  was  shown  at  the  London   Philatelic 


326  OCCASIONAL  NOTES. 

Exhibition  of  1897.     It  will  be  seen,  therefore,  that  there  are  in  all  from 
seventeen  to  twenty  specimens  extant. 


''AS  OTHERS  SEE    US"— IN  VICTORIA. 


HE  Melbourne -^^^  of  the  nth  of  August  last  devotes  a  column  and 
a  half  to  the  usual  irrelevant  and  imaginary  twaddle  published  by 
outsiders  when  they  write  upon  special  subjects,  but,  after  finding  no  epithets 
too  violent  to  discharge  upon  the  head  of  the  poor  Philatelist,  proclaims  its 
cordial  approval  of  the  methods  by  which  the  Victorian  Post  Office  wishes 
to  replenish  its  coffers  at  our  expense.     We  quote : 

"There  is,  however,  one  comforting  reflection  amid  all  this  folly — that  it  may  be 
made  to  contribute  handsomely  to  the  depleted  revenues  of  the  hospitals,  and  it 
is  to  be  hoped  that  the  postal  authorities  'will  work  it  for  all  it's  worth,'  as  the 
Yankees  elegantly  say. 

"  The  Victorian  Postal  Department  ought  to  think  twice  before  fixing  the  selling 
price  of  the  Hospital  Stamp  issue,  if  it  be  true  that  similar  stamps  are  selling  at 
a  considerable  premium  in  Sydney.  It  is  reported  that  the  New  South  Wales 
2\d.  stamps,  sold  at  2s.  6d.  by  the  Government,  now  fetch  12s.  6d.  when  bought 
by  stamp  collectors,  and  if  there  is  likely  to  be  a  similar  '  bull '  movement  in  the 
market  here  the  Department  ought  to  see  that  the  hospitals  benefit  to  the  fullest 
possible  extent,  and  that  a  large  part  of  the  premium  does  not  go  into  the  pockets 
of  speculators.  One  order  alone  came  in  last  week  for  stamps  to  the  value  of 
;^5oo,  and  these  are  evidently  taken  by  some  dealer  who  wishes  to  retail  them  to 
collectors." 

The  last  statement  is  of  the  l^aron  Munchausen  order,  and  the  "  good 
taste  "  of  the  article  is  on  a  par  with  its  accuracy. 


"HEALTH  VALUE  OF  A   HOBBY." 

NDER  the  above  title   Tit-Bits  recently  advocates  something  for  idle 
hands  to  do,  and  includes  Philately  as  the  dernier  ressort ! 

"  A  well-known  doctor  is  convinced  of  the  health  value  of  a  hobby.  He  says : — 
'  If  you  cannot  find  pleasure  in  the  study  of  the  very  many  wonders  that  surround 
you,  if  you  care  not  for  geology,  natural  history,  or  astronomy,  collect  walking-sticks, 
buy  and  cherish  old  and  cracked  china,  fill  up  albums  and  scrap-books,  or  even 
gather  together  autographs  atid postage  stamps ;  anything  sooner  than  be  idle.'" 

Even  read  Tit-Bits,  perhaps  ! 


SALE   OF  THE  LEEWARD  ISLANDS  JUBILEE  SET. 

OT  with  a  view  of  encouraging  the  sale  of  this  pernicious  rubbish, 
condemned  by  the  S.S.S.S.,  but  rather  to  open  the  eyes  of  collectors 
to  the  quantities  remaining  unsold,  do  we  publish  the  following  Official 
Notice  from  the  Leeward  Islands  Gazette  of  October  ist,  1897  : 


OCCASIONAL  NOTES. 


327 


"Colonial  Secretary's  Office, 

"  \st  October,   1897. 

"  His  Excellency  the  Governor  directs  the  publication  for  general  information 
of  the  following  Return  of  Jubilee  Stamps  sold  in  the  several  Presidencies  of  the 
Leeward  Islands : — 


PRESIDENCY 

id. 

Id. 

2id. 

4d. 

6d. 

7d. 

i/- 

5/- 

Antigua    . 

4113 

4200 

2075 

1672 

1220 

1241 

779 

320 

St.  Kitts-Nevis 

5361 

5'9i 

4707 

1913 

1049 

1023 

724 

3«4 

Dominica 

239S 

2400 

2264 

600 

240 

240 

1 20 

50 

Montserrat 

9S8 

«34 

664 

499 

120 

120 

60 

20 

Virgin  Islands  . 

133 

186 

123 

63 

61 

63 

60 

10 

Total 

12,963 

12,811 

9833 

4747 

2690 

2687 

1743 

784 

"  N.B. — It  is  hereby  notified  that  the  die  used  for  over-printing  the  stamps  issued 
as  Diamond  Jubilee  Stamps  has  been  destroyed  in  the  presence  of  His  Excellency 
the  Governor,  the  Acting  Colonial  Secretary,  and  the  Postmaster. 

''By  command,  E.  Alexander  Foster, 

"  Acting  Colonial  Secretary.''^ 


"Colonial  Secretary's  Office, 

"  \st  October,  1897. 

"Tenders  are  hereby  invited,  up  to  the  Thirty-first  day  of  December,  1897,  for 
the  purchase  of  the  following  unused  Jubilee  Stamps  : — 


ist  Lot. 

2nd  Lot. 

3rd  Lot. 

Denomination 
OF  Stamp. 

Sheets. 

Separate 
Stamps. 

Sheets. 

Separate 
Stamps. 

Sheets. 

Separate 
Stamps. 

id. 
Id. 

2id. 

4d. 
6d. 

7d. 
i/- 

5/- 

7 
7 

IS 
4 

2 
2 

I 
I 

39 
90 

3 

18 

104 

25 

80 
80 

7 
7 
15 
4 
2 
2 
I 
I 

39 
90 
2 
18 
103 
24 
80 
80 

7 
7 

IS 
4 
2 
2 
I 
I 

39 

89 

2 

17 
103 

24 
80 
80 

"  Persons  desirous  of  tendering  can  do  so  for  the  purchase  of  one  or  more  of  the 
lots  shown  in  the  above  statement. 

"  All  Tenders  should  be  submitted  in  a  sealed  envelope,  addressed  to  the  '  Colonial 
Secretary  of  the  Leeward  Islands,  Antigua,'  and  be  marked  on  the  envelope,  'Tender 
for  Jubilee  Stamps.' 

"  The  Government  will  not  bind  itself  to  accept  the  lowest  or  any  Tender. 

"  By  command,  E.  Alexander  Foster, 

"  Acting  Colonial  Secretary. 
"N.B. — Each  sheet  contains  120  stamps." 

It  will  be  seen  that,  counting  the  sheets,  there  are  15,349  stamps  of  all 
values  yet  to  be  sold,  and  when  it  is  remembered  that  the  vast  majority  of 
those  sold  in  the  Leeward  Islands  are  held  by  speculators,  collectors  and 
dealers  will  be  well  advised  to  let  this  rubbish  severely  alone. 


[      328      ] 


§[ebitfos. 

— ♦ — 

HELIGOLAND   AND    ITS   STAMPS.* 

HERE  has  been  no  lack  of  literature  afifecting  the  stamps  of 
this    celebrated   little   island,  ceded   by  this   country  to  the 
German  Empire,  in  exchange  for  territory  in  Africa,  on  the 
9th  August,  1890.     M.  Moens'  work,  which  has    now  been 
issued  in  book  form,  has  been   appearing  for  many  months 
in  instalments  in  the  pages  of  some  of  our  contemporaries, 
and,  as  is  usually  the  case  with  literature  "  to  be  continued  in  our  next,"  will 
be  far  better  appreciated  as  a  whole  than  in  disjointed  parts.     It  would  seem 
difficult  to  realize  that  270  odd  pages  are  occupied — needless  to  say  well 
occupied — by  M.  Moens'  history  of  the  stamps  of  so  tiny  a  country,  but  so 
complete  and  exhaustive  is  the  treatment  of  the  subject  that  not  one  page 
is   superfluous.      The  adhesives  are   treated   with  great   fulness ;    the  most 
minute  variations  of  the  dies,  the  disposition  of  the  stamps  on  the  sheets,  the 
several  reprints,  the  perforations,  the  gumming,  the  quantities  printed  and 
sold,  and  the  forgeries  of  stamps  or  obliteration,  are  all  exhaustively  con- 
sidered.    The  envelopes,  bands,  and  post  cards  are  also  most  scientifically 
handled,  and  contain  the  fullest  particulars  of  all  the  issues  and  the  reprints. 
An  interesting  preface  gives  the  history  of  the  island  and  its  posts,  with 
appropriate   illustrations.     Throughout  the  book   these   latter  are   frequent, 
illustrations    including    reduced    representations   of   entire    sheets,   showing 
the  various  settings-up.     The  full-size  reproductions  of  the  single  stamps  do 
not,  however,  come  out  so  well  as  might  be  expected,  possibly  owing  to  the 
nature  of  the  paper  employed,  which  is  somewhat  rough  and  porous.     A 
novel  feature  is  that  the  colours  of  the  island  are  followed  by  the  leaves  of 
the  book,  which  are  alternately  green,  red,  and  white — a  smart   effect,  but 
rather  trying  to  the  eyes.      The  cover  and   title-page,  printed   likewise  in 
green  and  red,  have  a  bird's-eye  view  of  the  island,  with  the  name  in  the 
fancy  capitals  of  the  post   cards  of   1878,  numerous  tailpieces  and   initials 
adorn  the  pages,  and  in  width  of  margin  and  general  appearance  the  book  is 
almost  an  edition  de  luxe. 

It  is  beyond  our  space  limits  to  give  a  detailed  excerpt  of  the  many 
interesting  Philatelic  points,  but  we  would  mention  that  M.  Moens  refuses 
to  credit  the  i  and  5  marks  perforated  11^  with  any  other  standing  than 
that  of  essays.  They  were  clearly  not  accepted  for  issue  by  the  authorities, 
and  the  mere  fact  of  a  copy  or  two  having  been  allowed  to  pass  the  post  in 
no  way  rehabilitates  them.  It  also  appears  that  the  last  printing  of  the 
I  mark  took  place  a  week  after  the  suppression  of  the  stamps  (16  August, 
1890),  and  is  therefore  practically  a  reprint.  The  first  printing  of  this  stamp 
should  be  rare,  as  also  Type  2  of  the  i-  sch.  rouletted,  judging  by  the  small 
number  issued.  M.  Moens  quotes  August  26,  1868,  as  the  earliest  postmark 
for  this  stamp,  which  is  the  same  as  on  an  envelope  with  two  copies  in  the 
writer's  possession.  We  congratulate  the  brilliant  Philatelist,  who  is  the 
author  of  this  book,  on  yet  another  laurel  to  his  fame. 

*  Heligoland  et  ses  timbres.     J.  B.  Moens,  Rue  de  Florence  42,  Brussels, 


NEW  ISSUES. 


329 


MR.   WESTOBY'S   WORK   ON    EUROPEANS.* 

The  second  portion  of  this  work  treats  of  Baden,  Bavaria,  and  Belgium. 
Hungary  is  finished  and  Bosnia  is  commenced,  a  practice  that  wc  think 
inadvisable,  as  each  part  should  contain  the  whole  of  certain  countries.  As 
we  have  previously  stated,  Mr.  Westoby's  work  is  of  a  high  order :  per- 
spicuity, system,  and  definite  lines  are  the  prominent  features,  commendably 
adhered  to,  despite  the  author's  deep  Thilatelic  knowledge  to  lure  him 
beyond  the  scope  of  the  work — the  instruction  of  the  disciple.  The  history 
of  the  Baden  stamps  will  be  found  of  considerable  interest,  explaining  the 
changes  of  colour  in  the  numeral  issues,  and  the  reason  for  the  scarcity  of 
the  3  kr.  of  1862,  perforated  13^.  In  Bavaria  the  issues  of  1867  with  silk 
thread,  and  those  following  to  1876,  are  commendably  condensed,  and  the 
"  New  Collector "  is  not  bothered  with  the  details  of  three  or  four  varieties 
of  papers  of  small  Philatelic  importance.  Belgium  is  a  country  that 
Mr.  Westoby  has  always  had  a  liking  for.  We  remember  his  old  collection, 
in  which  these  stamps  were  very  choice,  and  sadly  sigh  at  the  memory  of 
wasted  opportunities.  Mr.  Westoby  quotes  the  first  perforated  series,  1863, 
as  gauging  13,  13^,  and  13  (vertical)  x  13^-.  In  the  writer's  collection  they 
are  divided — (a)  Perf.  \2\,  the  first  issued  with  subvarieties  of  i  and  10  c, 
perf.  1 2i  (horizontal)  X  13^;  {b)  I2|xi3i;  and  (f)  the  last  issued,  14^.  By 
his  recent  discovery,  that  the  London  impression  of  the  1865  issue  consisted 
only  of  the  i  franc,  the  author  has  shown  that  he  was  still  in  touch,  and  a 
study  of  the  excellent  list  here  prepared  further  bears  this  out.  Printing, 
paper,  and  illustrations  are  again  excellent.  It  is  a  pity,  however,  that  better 
specimens  were  not  selected  for  this  purpose. 

*  The  Adhesive  Postage  Stamps  of  Europe.     Part  II.     By  W.  A.  S.  Westoby.     L.  Upcolt  Gill, 
170,  Strand,  London,  W.C. 


lictu  Issues. 


NOTKS    OF    NE-W,    AND    VARIATIONS  OF   CURRENT,    ISSUES. 

(Varieties  of  Obsolete  Stamps,  and  Discoveries,  will  be  found  under  "Pliilatelic  Notes.") 

We  do  iwt  profess  to  chronicle  everything,  but,  tvith  the  kind  help  of  correspondents,  are  desirous  that 
all  the  important  novelties  may  be  included.  Speculative  stamps — i.e.  those  not  really  7-eqtiired  for 
postal  purposes — will  be  considered  on  their  merits,  and  fubilee  issues  will  not  be  chronicled. 

Members  of  the  London  Philatelic  Society,  and  other  recuiers  generally,  are  invited  to  co-operate  with  us 
in  making  the  columns  as  interesting  as  possible.  Our  foreign  readers  can  especially  help  us  in 
this  direction,  by  sending  copies  of  any  official  documents  relative  to  changes  in  the  current  issties, 
or  early  intimation  of  any  new  issue,  accompanied,  when  possible,  by  a  specimen  ;  such  information 
will  be  duly  credited  to  the  correspondent,  and,  if  desired,  the  specimen  promptly  returned. 
Address:   EDITOR  "LONDON  PHILATELIST,"  EfKINGHAM  HOUSE,  ArUNDEL  StREET,  StRAND, 

London,  W.C. 


BRITISH    EMPIRE. 
British  East  Africa. — Several  journals 
announce  the  issue  of  a  ^  anna  Reply  Post 
Card,  with  stamps  of  the  current  type,  and 
perforation  between  the  two  cards. 

Post  Card.     i  +  J  anna,  yellow-green  on  buff. 


Canada. — From  the  A.  J.  of  Ph.  we  cut 
the  following  Notice,  which  has  been  sent  to 
all  Canadian  postmasters  : 

' '  Circular  to  Postmaster. 
"New  Issue  of  Postage  Stamps,  exc 
"The   Postmaster-General  has  made  arrantre- 


330 


NEW  ISSUES. 


merits  for  a  new  issue  of  postage  stamps,  letter 
cards,  stamped  envelopes,  post  cards,  and  post 
bands.  These  will  be  supplied  to  the  postmasters 
in  the  usual  way. 

"  Postmasters  are,  however,  instructed  not  to 
sell  the  stamps  of  any  denomination  of  the  new 
issue  until  the  stamps  of  the  corresponding 
denomination  of  the  present  issue  are  disposed  of. 
The  filling  of  requisitions  by  the  Postage  Stamp 
Branch  will  be  regulated  by  the  same  principle — 
that  is  to  say,  no  item  of  the  proposed  issue  will 
be  sent  out  until  the  corresponding  item  of  the 
present  issue  has  been  exhausted. 

"  To  conform  to  the  regulations  of  the  Inter- 
national Postal  Union,  the  colour  of  the  new  I 
cent  stamp  will  be  green,  and  that  of  the  S  cent 
stamp  a  deep  blue. 

"  R.  M.  Coulter, 
' '  Deputy  Postmaster-  General. 
"Post  Office  Department,  Canada, 
Ottawa,  25//*  October,  1897." 

We  have  received  from  Mr.  E.  Y.  Parker, 
of  Toronto,  a  specimen  of  the  new  issue, 
the  J  cent  value,  the  only  one  issued  at  the 
date  of  writing.  A  central  oval  is  occupied 
with  a  recent  portrait  of  Her  Majesty  the 
Queen,  which  however  appears  to  be  too 
large  for  the  space  allotted.  Around  this 
oval  is  a  band  of  solid  colour,  on  which  are 
the  words,  "Canada  postage"  at  top, 
"  HALF  CENT "  at  base,  in  white  letters. 
The  four  corners  are  filled  in  with  a  leaf 
from  the  maple  tree — the  emblem  of  the 
Dominion. 

Adhesive,    h  cent,  black;  perf.  12. 

Hong  Kong.— The  forger  has  been  at 
work  on  the  i  dollar  stamp,  which  is  the 
96  c,  brown  on  red,  surcharged  "  i  Dollar." 
This  surcharge  has  been  forged  on  the  10  c. 
current  issue,  which  is  of  the  same  colour  as 
the  96  c.  All  the  one  dollar  stamps  have 
been  called  in  and  a  temporary  stamp  has 
been  issued,  for  which  purpose  the  two 
dollars  Fiscal  Stamp  has  been  surcharged 
"  One  Dollar,"  with  the  additional 
Chinese  inscription. 

Ad/iesh'e. 
One  dollar  on  Two  dollar,  sage-green  ;  black  surch. 

India.  —  Duttia. — The  M.  J.  announces 
some  more  labels  ;  the  sup- 
ply will  no  doubt  continue 
so  long  as  there  is  any 
demand.  This  time  (see 
accompanying  illustration) 
the  name  of  the  State  is 
spelt  "datia."  We  think 
the  four  stamps  comprised 
in  the  issue  must  include  the  new  one  anna, 
of  which  we  spoke  last  month. 

Adhesives.     J  a.,  black  on  green. 
X  a.,  black. 
2  a.       , ,      on  yellow. 
4  a.       ,,      „    red. 


STATE 

^t 

t^f 

M 

5 

^•-•■"•■^ 

t^ 

^\^  ^PTT  1 

Newfoundland. — Owing  to  a  temporary 
dearth  of  one  cent  stamps  a  provisional 
stamp,  the  first  in  the  history  of  the  Colony, 
has  been  issued.  It  consists  of  the  3  c. 
(1890  type)  surcharged  "one  cent"  in 
one  line  of  capitals  between  two  parallel 
bars.  Messrs.  Whitfield  King  &  Co.  send 
us  some  copies  of  this  provisional,  from 
which  we  find  that  there  are  three  types 
of  the  surcharge  :  i,  Roman  ;  2,  larger 
Roman  ;  3,  sans-serif. 

AdAesives. 
One  cent  on  3  c,  slate-lilac  ;  black  surcharge ;  3  types. 

New  South  Wales. — We  have  received 
some  more  stationery  from  our  Australian 
correspondent :  an  envelope  of  the  usual 
commercial  size,  bearing  the  2d.  Jubilee 
Stamp  ;  a  id.  reply  post  card  of  the  same 
type  as  the  single  card  chronicled  last 
month  ;  and  a  wrapper  with  the  id.  Jubilee 
Stamp  impressed  thereon.  The  two  former 
items  had  not  been  circulated  at  the  time 
our  correspondent  wrote,  as  the  supply  of 
the  previous  types  was  not  exhausted. 

Envelope.     2d.,  blue  on  white  laid. 
Post  Card,     i-fid.,  carmine  on  strata  (reply). 
Wrapper,     id.,  carmine  on  manilla,  laid,  watermarked 
"One  Penny." 

St.  Vincent. — Mr.  Proudfoot  informs  us 
that  on  October  6th  last  the  id.  stamp  w^as 
issued  printed  in  light  lilac,  and  surcharged 
"  3d."  in  black.  This  stamp  is  to  take  the 
place  of  the  3d.  Revenue  Stamp  which  has 
been  abolished,  and  to  pay  the  postage  and 
registration  fee  to  Grenada  and  St.  Lucia. 

Adhesive.    3d.  on  id.,  lilac  ;  black  surcharge. 

Sar.\wak. — Two  new  stamps  have  been 
issued  in  the  1888  type,  value  50  c.  and 
I  dollar  ;  also  a  post  card, 

Adhesives.    50c.,  grey-green  and  blue-green  ;  perf.  14. 

I  dollar,  grey-green  and  black. 
Post  Card.     3c.,  carmine  on  straw  ;  140X88  mm. 

Uganda. — The  M.  J.  announces  the 
following  additions  to  the  various  issues  : 

Adhesives. 

1 895.     Letters  "  U.  G."  and  numerals. 

25  (cowries),  black. 

35        »  •■ 

5        ,,  violet. 

15        >, 

25        .1  .. 

1896.     lyilh  "  V  96  R  "  and  name. 
30  (cowries),  violet. 
40        11  11 

60        11  t, 

ViCTORl.\. — Our  Australian  correspondent 
writes  that  this  Colony  has  issued  a  lid. 
stamp  for  newspaper  postage.  The  shape 
is  the  same  as  that  of  the  |d.,  and  the 
colour  emerald-green. 


AEIV  ISSUES. 


33' 


EUROPE. 
Hungary. — The  J/.  J.  has  received  some 
post  cards  which  are  employed  by  the 
inhabitants  of  Hungary,  and  by  persons 
visiting  that  country,  for  the  purpose  of 
notifying  to  the  police  of  Budapest  their 
arrival,  departure,  and  other  movements. 
Each  card  is  folded  in  three,  and  contains 
six  pages  of  printed  forms  and  instructions, 
all  in  Hungarian,  including  a  reply  portion 
on  which,  we  presume,  is  given  the  per- 
mission (or  otherwise)  of  the  police  for 
residence,  departure,  &c.  The  cards  measure 
305  X  72  mm.  when  open,  and  are  described 
as  follows :  „   .  ^    j 

Post  Cards. 

2  +  2  kr.,  blue  on  bic/f;  "Notification  for  settled  in- 
habitants and  their  scn^ants." 

2+2  kr.,  blue  on  blue;  "Notice  of  Departm-e  for  the 
above. ^' 

2  +  2  kr.,  brown  on  buff;  "For  use  of  non-residents, 
journeying  through  the  town,  and  staying 
only  a  short  time  in  hotels,  6^c." 

2  +  2  kr.,  brown  on  blue;  "Notice  of  Departure  for 
use  of  non-residents,  ^'c." 

Germany. — The  Letter  Cards  mentioned 
last  month  have  been  issued,  and  form  the 
most  sensible  piece  of  stationery,  in  our 
opinion,  which  has  as  yet  been  supplied 
by  any  Post  Office  for  use  of  the  public. 
In  addition  to  the  ordinary  inside  space 
for  the  reception  of  the  communication, 
there  is  an  extra  flap  which  folds  inside, 
allowing  a  clear  writing  space  of  lOg  x  5  in. 
The  usual  10  pf.  stamp  and  inscriptions 
occupy  the  front,  and  the  extra  payment 
if  used  abroad  inscription  the  back,  the 
card  itself  being  of  a  very  thin  material, 
duplex  tinted. 

Letter  Card.     lo  pf.,  carmine. 

Spain. — The  M.  J.  publishes  the  follow- 
ing translation  of  an  extract  from  the 
Diario  de  Cadiz  of  October  nth,  1897. 
From  the  extract  it  would  appear  that  we 
may  expect  a  new  issue  in  January  next. 

With  nineteen  values  of  adhesives,  the 
1898  issue  of  Spain  should  afford  scope 
for  the  specialist ! 

"We  have  already  announced  that  a 
Decree  has  been  signed,  giving  the  nevv 
general  tariff  of  the  Posts  and  Telegraphs 
for  Puerto  Rico  and  the  Philippines,  and 
the  corresponding  stamps. 

"  To  suit  these  new  tariffs  there  will  be 
twenty  varieties  of  stamps  and  eight  post 
cards. 

"  The  stamps  will  be  of  the  following 
values  :  i,  2,  3,  4,  and  5  mil^simas  of  a 
peso  ;  I,  2,  3,  4,  6,  8,  10,  15,  20,  40,  60,  and 
80  centavos  of  a  peso  ;  i  and  2  pesos. 


"The  post  cards  will  cost  5  mildsimas  ;  i, 
2,  and  3  centavos,  and  double  the  price 
each  for  reply-paid  cards. 

"The  stamps  will  bear  a  special  design. 

"  The  new  tariff  will  come  into  force  from 
the  1st  January,  1898." 

Switzerland. — The  2  c.  wrapper  has 
undergone  the  same  alteration  as  that  which 
was  effected  on  the  5  c.  ;  description  on 
page  225. 

Wrapper.     2  c,  carmine  on  straw. 

AMERICA. 

Argentine  Republic. —  By  a  decree 
dated  7th  May,  1897,  this  Republic  has 
decided  to  advertise  its  attractions  by  illus- 
trating the  Post  and  Letter  Cards  with  views 
and  other  illustrations.  This  is  "  an  advance 
in  civilization"  which  is  neither  serious  nor 
expedient.  The  decree  referred  to  states 
that  the  illustrated  cards  are  intended  to 
"  push  the  public  use  of  the  cards,  and  at 
the  same  time  to  enlighten  strangers  as  to 
the  advancement  of  the  civilization  of  our 
country,"  etc. 

We  think  the  "  private "  Post  Card  con- 
cession is  a  decided  boon  in  the  light  of 
such  misuse  of  official  stationery. 

Bolivia. — We  annex  an  illustration  of 
the  2  bolivianos  value,  and  give  the  corrected 
chronicle. 

Adhesive,     ab.,  black,  red,  yellow,  and  green,  perf.  iij. 


Mexico.— The  A.  J.  of  Ph.  has  received 
the  20  c.  and  i  peso  adhesives  with  a  new 
watermark — the  Mexican  Eagle  and  the 
letters  "R.M."  in  Roman  capitals. 

Adhesives.     20  c,  brown-lilac,  perf.  12. 
I  peso,  brown  ,, 

Uruguay.— The  "Paz"  issue  of  Septem- 
ber last  has  already  received  just  condemna- 
tion, but  on  June  26  last,  according  to  a 
cutting  from  the  Montevideo  Times,  sent  us 
by  Messrs.  Whitfield  King  &  Co.,  the  follow- 
ing were  issued  for  permanent  (or  annual) 
use  : 


332 


NEW  ISSUES. 


"  7  cents,  orange  ;  lo  cents,  red  ;  20  cents, 
violet  and  black;  25  cents,  rose  and  blue; 
all  of  the  same  designs  as  the  corresponding 
values  in  the  emission  of  Dec.  5,  1895. 

"  50  cents,  green  and  dark  chestnut  ; 
I  peso,  chestnut  and  blue  ;  2  pesos,  ochre 
and  carmine  ;  3  pesos,  lilac  and  carmine  ; 
all  of  the  same  designs  as  the  corresponding 
values  in  the  emission  of  Jan  2,  1896.  (We 
follow  the  official  description  of  the  colours, 
not  having  seen  the  stamps  ourselves.) 

"In  addition  to  the  above,  the  long-felt 
want  of  postcards,  envelopes,  and  wrappers 
will  at  last  be  supplied  by  the  issue  of  the 
following  postal  stationery : 

'■^Postcards.  For  Interior.  2  cents,  sin- 
gle, maroon  ink  ;  4  cents,  reply-paid,  bright 
maroon  ;  3  cents,  letter-card,  light  green  ; 
6  cents,  letter-card,  reply-paid,  red  ink. 

"  Postcards.  For  Argentina.  2  cents,  sin- 
gle, blue  ink  ;  4  cents,  reply-paid,  violet  ink. 

"For  other  parts  of  the  Postal  Union.  3 
cents,  single,  violet  ink  ;  6  cents,  reply-paid, 
blue-violet. 

"  Envelopes.     5  cents,  red  ink. 

"  Wrappers,     i  cent,  blue  ink. 

"The  usual  period  of  90  days  is  allowed 
for  the  withdrawal  or  exchange  of  previous 
issues,  after  which  they  will  be  valueless  for 
postal  purposes." 

We  have  not  yet  seen  any  of  the  above 
novelties.  When  we  have  we  will  give 
formal  chronicle. 

United  States.— The  destruction  of 
the  rollers  and  plates  of  the  obsolete  issues 
was  made  the  occasion  for  a  "new  issue" 
of  a  decidedly  novel  character.  When  the 
plates  had  been  melted,  a  portion  of  the 
metal  was  re-cast  into  paper-weights,  the 
same  being  in  the  new  form  of  a  profile  bust 
of  Columbus.  These  paper-weights  were 
presented  to  prominent  officials  in  the 
various  departments  at  Washington. 

OTHER    COUNTRIES. 

China. — We  have  received  from  Mr. 
David  Benjamin  a  complete  set  of  the 
new  issue,  from  which  our  illustrations  of 
the  three  high  value  stamps  are  taken.  We 
find  that  the  perforation  of  the  stamps 
measures  from  11  to  113,  and  not  11^  all 
through  as  stated  last  month. 

These  stamps  are  printed  80  to  a  sheet. 
Mr.  Benjamin  also  writes  that  all  the  re- 
mainders of  the  recent  surcharged  stamps 
have  now  been  withdrawn. 

Adiusives.     i  dollar,  carmine. 

2  dollars,  deep  orange. 
5      ,,         green  and  flesh. 


Eritrea. — The  new  i  c.  and  2  c.  adhesives 
have  received  the  surcharge  "  Eritrea." 

Adhesives.     ic,  brown;  black  surch. 
2  c. ,  red  ,,         ,, 

French  Colonies.— C^z/wr^i  Islands.— 
The  /.  H.J.  adds  a  list  of  stationery  to  the 
new  stamps  described  last  month. 

Envelopes.       5  c,  green  and  red  on  green. 
15  c,  blue      „       „     3  sizes. 
25  c,  black  and  red  on  rose ;  3  sizes. 
Letter  Cards.     15c.,  black  and  red  on  grey. 
25  c.         ,,  ,,     on  rose. 

Post  Cards.     10  c,  black  and  blue  on  green. 

lo-l-ioc. ,  black  and  blue  on  itrte. 

Hayti. — The  A.  J.  of  Ph.  has  received 
some  sheets  of  the  current  i  c.  imperforate 
vertically. 

Philippine  Islands.— The  illustration 
gives  the  type  of  surcharge  chronicled  last 
month.  In  sending  us  copies  of  these  pro- 
visionals, Messrs.  Whitfield 
King  &  Co.  write,  "  The 
cause  of  the  surcharge  is 
explained  by  the  fact  that 
all  obsolete  issues  are  de- 
monetised after  a  certain 
period,  during  which  they 
may  be  exchanged  for  the  new  issue.  After 
the  period  has  elapsed,  stamps  of  the  old 
issue  in  the  hands  of  the  public  can  neither 
be  used  nor  exchanged.  The  stock  of  current 
5  c.  and  15  c.  having  run  out,  the  remainders 
on  hand  of  an  obsolete  issue  were  over- 
printed to  make  them  available  for  use." 

SlAM. — There  is  a  new  surcharge  on  the 
I  att  stamp,  this  value  having  overprinted 
"4  atts"  in  two  sizes;  one  measuring 
85  mm.  and  the  other  ii   mm. 

Adhesives.    4  atts  on  i  att,  green  ;  black  surcharge. 

Transvaal. —  The  single  card  of  one 
penny  has  been  issued  with  the  stamp  in 
two  colours. 

Post  Card,     id.,  carmine  and  green. 


|oFII,IPI>ASol 

^^^ 

p! 

%i.otnr^. 

1  i 

1  !20  <M)KV 

[      333     ] 


ilatclit  Satieties'  litettings. 


Secrdaries  would  oblii;e  by  condensing  their  minutes  as  much  as  possible,  so  that  the  portion  published 
should  principally  contain  matters  of  public  interest.     All  reports  should  be  addressed  to — 

Mr.  II.  M.  GoocH,  Effingham  House,  Arundki.  Strekt,  London,  W.C. 


BIRMINGHAM    PHILATELIC   SOCIETY. 


Honorary  President — W.  B.  Avery,  Esq. 
Hoti.  Sec.  and  Treas. — Mr.  G.  Johnson,  B.A., 

208,  Birchjield  Road,  Birmingham. 


Oct.  2ist.  —  The  following  were  unani- 
mously elected  members  :  Messrs.  F.  S. 
Carter  (Derby),  E.  H.  Eglington  (Staffs.), 
E.  Legendre  (France). 

Mr.  W.  T.  Wilson  then  gave  his  presi- 
dential address,  dealing  mainly  with  the 
London  Exhibition,  and  comparing  it  with 
the  previous  one,  and  advocating  the  holding 
of  an  exhibition  in  Birmingham. 


I  Nov.  4th. — Rev.  P.  E.  Raynor  (Ipswich), 
Messrs.  G.  Mackey  (Birmingham),  and 
W.  Marchbank  (Newcastle-on-Tyne),  were 
unanimously  elected  members. 

Then  followed  the  display  of  Ceylon. 
Messrs.  Wilson  and  Pimm,  and  Alajor 
Stockdale,  showed  tine  collections. 


MANCHESTER   PHILATELIC  SOCIETY. 


President — W.  Dorning  Beckton. 
Hon.  Sec. — A.  H.  Harrison. 


The  second  meeting  of  the  seventh  session 
was  held  at  the  Grand  Hotel  on  Friday, 
October  ist,  1897.  The  President  in  the 
chair,  supported  by  fourteen  members. 
After  the  formal  business,  which  included 
a  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Grunewald  for  the 
loan  of  twenty-four  large  frames,  used  (with 
others  belonging  to  the  Society)  at  the  in- 
augural meeting  of  the  session,  Mr.  Ernest 
Petri  read  a  paper  on  the  recent  London 
Jubilee  Philatelic  Exhibition.  This  paper 
showed  that  the  writer  had  carefully,  and 
with  very  critical  eyes,  inspected  the  various 
exhibits,  giving  great  praise  in  some  in- 
stances, and  in  many  others  pointing  out 
where,  to  his  mind,  the  particular  exhibit 
was  wanting.  Mr.  Petri's  observations 
covered  every  exhibit  of  note,  and  were 
much  appreciated  by  the  members  present. 
The  President  afterwards  explained  that 
though  great  care  had  been  taken  in  the 
past  as  to  the  election  of  new  members, 
the  Committee  had  decided  to  make  the 
regulation  as  to  the  admission  of  future 
members.  He  explained  at  some  length 
what  these  restrictions  were. 


The  third  ordinary  meeting  of  the  session 
was  held  at  the   Grand    Hotel   on  Friday, 


October  15th,  at  7.30  p.m.  The  President 
in  the  chair,  supported  by  the  following 
members  :  J.  H.  Abbott,  F.  Barratt,  C.  H. 
Coote,  G.  F.  H.  Gibson,  O.  Gillett,  W. 
Grunewald,  A.  H.  Harrison,  M.  W.  Jones, 
W.  W.  Munn,  J.  C.  North,  T.  Oxley,  and 
E.  Petri. 

After  the  minutes  of  the  previous  meeting 
had  been  read  and  confirmed,  a  ballot  was 
taken,  which  resulted  in  the  unanimous 
election  of  the  following  gentlemen  :  Messrs. 
W.  Armistead,  Herbert  Lund,  F.R.C.S.  Eng., 
John  J.  Leech,  and  Dr.  Jago  (of  Cadishead) 
as  ordinary  members,  and  Mr.  J.  H.  Thackrah 
(of  Leeds)  as  a  corresponding  member. 

Mr.  M.  W.  Jones,  F.C.S.,  then  read  a 
paper  on  "Gums"  and  "The  best  methods 
for  detecting  cleaned  stamps,"  premising  his 
remarks  by  a  short  account  of  the  circum- 
stances that  led  to  the  substitution  of  various 
vegetable  starches  for  gum  arable.  Owing 
to  the  failure  in  the  supplies  of  the  latter 
article,  and  the  consequent  high  prices, 
caused  by  the  Napoleonic  wars  during  the 
first  decade  of  this  century,  manufacturers 
and  consumers  were  under  the  necessity  of 
using  cheaper  substitutes,  and  hence  the 
almost  universal  adoption  and  retention  of 
these  vegetable  starches.  Chief  among 
these  is  dextrine,  prepared   from   "farina," 


334 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


or  occasionally  from  farina  and  maize ;  and 
it  will  doubtless  be  news  to  many  Philatelists 
that  this  preparation  has  invariably  been 
applied  as  a  mucilage  to  English  adhesives, 
ever  since  postage  stamps  were  first  issued, 
in  the  year  1840.  After  an  exhaustive 
analysis  of  the  properties  of  dextrine,  in 
the  course  of  which  Mr.  Jones  incidentally 
explained  that,  although  usually  perfectly 
white,  any  depth  of  colour  may  be  obtained 
by  the  process  of  roasting,  or  exposure  of 
dextrine  to  heat  in  a  moist  atmosphere, 
reference  was  made  of  the  admixture  in 
dextrine  of  mineral  acids,  which,  it  was 
conceivable,  although  but  a  small  millage, 
might  injuriously  affect  certain  delicate 
colours,  especially  where  circumstances 
were  favourable  to  the  action  of  the  acids, 
as  in  the  case  of  stamps  affixed  to  covers 
made  of  inferior  papers,  heavily  sized  with 
chemical  ingredients. 

Finally,  attention  was  called  to  the  subject 
of  cleaned  stamps,  which  may  be  readily 
detected,  not  only  by  the  taste  left  by  the 
powerful  acids  used  for  such  purposes,  but 
also  by  the  greater  transparency  of  all 
stamps  thus  treated,  which  are  invariably 
more  or  less  thinned  by  the  elimination  of 
the  size  originally  contained  in  the  paper. 

A  hearty  burst  of  applause  greeted  the 
conclusion  of  a  very  scientific  paper,  which 
was  highly  appreciated  by  all  present. 


The  fourth  ordinary  meeting  of  the  session 
was   held  at   the   Grand   Hotel  on  Friday 


evening,  October  29th,  the  President  in  the 
chair,  supported  by  fourteen  members. 

After  the  minutes  of  the  previous  meeting 
had  been  read  and  confirmed,  the  following 
gentlemen  were  elected  members  of  the 
Society,  viz.  :  Mr.  John  Cooper,  Longsight, 
as  an  ordinary  member;  and  Messrs.  W.  A. 
Boden,  Cardiff,  and  W.  K.  Skipwith,  Leeds, 
as  corresponding  members. 

The  President  then  read  a  short  paper  on 
the  stamps  of  Nevis,  prefacing  his  remarks 
with  a  description  of  the  physical  features 
and  general  conditions  of  the  Leeward 
Islands,  in  the  course  of  which  he  sug- 
gested that  the  design  of  the  first  issues  of 
Nevis  was  evidently  adopted  with  a  view 
to  advertising  the  healing  properties  of  the 
hot  mineral  springs,  and  attracting  visitors 
to  the  island.  In  dealing  with  the  varieties 
of  type,  which  have  been  known  to  Phila- 
telists for  some  thirty  years,  attention  was 
called  to  the  strange  fact  that  the  engraved 
series  are  so  extremely  rare  in  the  entire 
sheet,  those  on  blue  paper  being  unknown  in 
this  condition. 

On  the  conclusion  of  the  paper  the  Hon. 
Secretary  passed  round,  for  inspection,  a 
number  of  entire  and  reconstructed  sheets 
of  Nevis,  which  had  been  kindly  lent  for 
the  occasion  by  Mr.  C.  J.  Phillips. 

Mr.  G.  B.  Duerst  terminated  the  proceed- 
ings by  giving  some  interesting  particulars 
about  the  recent  Philatelic  Exhibition  held 
in  Leipsic. 

Arthur  H.  Harrison,  Hon.  Sec. 

Grasmere,  Whitefield,  near  Manchester. 


THE    COLLECTORS'    CLUB, 

351,  Fourth  Avenue,  New  York. 


President — William  Herrick.  |  Vice- Presic/eni— Charles  Gregory. 

Secretary — ^J.   M.  Andreini,  29,  W.  75th  Street. 


Fifteenth  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Gover- 
nors held  Oct.  II,  1897,  at  the  Club  House, 
Fourth  Avenue.  Present :  Messrs.  Scott,  Luff, 
Lynde,  Nast,  Gregory  and  the  Secretary. 

Vice-President  Gregory  as  the  Chairman 
called  the  meeting  to  order  at  8.10  p.m. 
Minutes  of  the  previous  meeting  read  and 
approved. 

The  Secretary  read  communications  from 
Messrs.  Ackerman,  Wolsieffer,  Luff,  Deats, 
Mekeel,  Mathews,  Carion,  and  Collin. 

Appropriation  of  $5  for  binding  books 
was  made  at  the  request  of  the  Library 
Committee. 

Request  of  Mr.  Mathews  granted. 

Special  Committee  on  Cuts  reported  the 
expenditure  of  $36,  as  authorized. 

Report  of  Committee  on  Amusements  was 
then  received.  House  Committee  report 
received. 

Treasurer's  report,  embodying  receipts 
and  expenditures  up  to  the  end  of  the  Club 


fiscal  year,  duly  examined  by  the  Auditing 
Committee,  was  then  presented,  and  it  was 
accepted  with  congratulations.  Balance  in 
bank  on  Sept.  30th,  §650.04. 

Appropriation  of  $40  for  ivory  balls  was 
passed,  and  Chairman  of  House  Committee 
authorized  to  purchase  a  set. 

Upon  ballot  the  following  candidates  were 
unanimously  elected  subscribing  members 
of  the  Club  :  Reginald  Stelfox,  Demarest, 
N.J.  ;  D.  H.  Bacon,  Derby,  Conn.  ;  P.  M. 
Wolsieffer,  201,  S.  Clark  Street,  Chicago, 
111.  ;  Henry  F.  Lyons,  jun.,  383,  First  Street, 
Brooklyn,  N.Y. ;  William  Brown,  St.  Thomas 
Square,  Salisbury,  Eng.  ;  W.  H.  Sussdorff, 
Woodside,  L.l. ;  and  they  were  declared 
duly  elected. 

The  following  application  for  membership 
was  reported  :  Erik  Enequist,  136,  Liberty 
Street,  proposed  by  John  W.  Scott,  seconded 
by  Walter  S.  Scott,  and  his  name  was  ordered 
to  be  posted. 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


335 


The  Secretary  reported  having  issued  a 
two  weeks  visitor's  ticket  to  Mr.  Ed.  L. 
Smiley,  of  Boston. 

An  informal  discussion  was  then  held  on 


the  subject  of  amendments  to  the  constitu- 
tion, proposed  by  Mr.  Luff. 

J.  M.  Andrei Ni,  Secretary. 


THE    PHILATELIC    SOCIETY,    NEW   YORK, 

351,  Fourth  Avenue. 


President — Charles  Gregory. 
Vice-President — J.    M.    Andreini. 


The  regular  monthly  meeting  of  the  Society 
was  held  September  20th,  at  the  Collectors' 
Club,  Present  :  Messrs.  Clotz,  Dejonge, 
Smith,  Andreini,  Luff,  Tuttle,  Scott,  Lynde, 
and  Nast.  Vice-President  Andreini  in  the 
chair.  Visitors,  Major  Baker  and  Walter 
S.  Scott. 

The  minutes  of  the  preceding  meeting 
were  read  and  approved.  The  Secretary 
read  a  communication  from  Mr.  Ouigley 
resigning  his  office  as  Librarian  owing  to 
expected  absence  from  town  during  the 
winter.  A  motion  to  accept  Mr.  Ouigley's 
resignation  with  regret  was  carried  unani- 
mously. 

Mr.  Thorne,  who  was  unable  to  be  present, 
sent  his  little  collection  of  "  One  hundred 
rare  stamps,"  which  had  won  a  gold  medal 
at  the  London  Exhibition,  for  the  examina- 
tion of  the  members. 

The  stamps  were  of  the  kind  that  are 
usually  not  found  in  any  collections  except 
those  of  world-wide  reputation,  made  by 
Philatelists  of  many  years'  standing. 

Stamps  of  Nevis  shown  by  Mr.  Andreini 
in  two  volumes  were  the  admiration  and 
despair  of  the  members  present.  Practi- 
cally everything  in  sheets,  and  plated  sheets 
both  used  and  unused,   on   every  kind   of 


Secretary — Frederick  Augustus  Nast. 
T7-easurer — Henry  Clotz. 


paper,  in  all  shades  and  perforations,  in- 
cluding those  used  fiscally  ;  there  was  hardly 
anything  to  be  tilled  out,  excepting  a  few 
vacant  spaces  in  the  used  sheets  in  course 
of  construction. 

Much  regret  was  expressed  at  the  absence 
of  so  many  members,  to  whom  these  collec- 
tions would  have  given  great  pleasure. 


The  regular  monthly  meeting  was  held 
October  i8th,  at  The  Collectors'  Club. 
Present  :  Messrs.  Scott,  Andreini,  Lawrence, 
Gregory,  Thorne,  Tuttle,  Brunner,  and 
Nast  ;  the  President  in  the  chair.  The 
minutes  of  the  preceding  meeting  were 
read  and  approved.  Mr.  W.  H.  Sussdorf, 
Woodside,  New  York,  was  unanimously 
elected  a  member  of  the  Society. 

The  stamps  of  the  Far  East,  Hawaii, 
China,  Japan,  etc.,  of  which  the  extensive 
collection  made  by  Mr.  John  N.  Luff  and  ex- 
hibited at  this  meeting  formed  the  basis 
of  the  discussion,  were  then  taken  up. 

The  topic  for  discussion  at  the  November 
meeting  will  be  the  British  Colonials, 
Messrs.  Andreini  and  Thorne  promising  to 
have  parts  of  their  collections  for  exhibition 
to  the  members  present. 


SUBURBAN  STAMP  EXCHANGE. 


May  packets  came  back  from  the  supplemen- 
tary rounds  on  the  5th  instant,  and  accounts 
were  submitted  for  settlement  with  the  least 
possible  delay.     Sales  were  as  follows  : 


£   s. 

d. 

May  A  i  packet 

■      99    4 

7 

))     A  2      „ 

•     127     4 

2 

»     B  I       „ 

•       51   17 

II 

,,     B  2       „ 

.       31     0 

4 

Supplementary    rounds 

of 

A  I  and  A  2  packets 


48  19 


No  packets  were  circulated  in  June,  sheets 
received  during  that  month  being  included 
in  July  rounds ;    these   are  expected  back 


from  supplementary  rounds  in  about  three 
weeks. 

October  packets  were  despatched  on  the 
24th  ult.,  and  contained  selections  valued  at 
^1904  i\s.  i\d.  Africans  were  specially 
good  at  reasonable  quotations.  During  the 
past  month  nine  new  members  were  elected, 
three  resignations  accepted,  and  eleven  ap- 
plications either  held  over  or  declined.  Total 
number  of  members  to  date,  318.  Collectors 
with  few  duplicates,  but  wishing  to  see  packets, 
will  be  welcomed,  as  more  buyers  are  wanted. 
Metal  boxes  are  now  in  use  for  circulating 
sheets.  Rules,  etc.,  to  be  obtained  on  appli- 
cation to  the  Secretary — H.  A.  Slade,  Ingle- 
side,  St.  Albans. 


[      336      ] 


dtorres)^0nb£na. 


COMMUNMCATIONS. — All  coiiimiiiiicatioiis  of  Philatelic  matters  and  Publications  for  Review  shotcld 
be  addressed  to  the  Editor  of  The  London  Philatelist,  Kingston  Lodge,  Richmond  Place, 
Brighton. 

Advertisements  should  be  sent  to  Mr.  H.  M.  Gooch  (Advertising  Department),  Effingham  House, 
Arundel  Street,  London,  W.C. 

Subscriptions.  — The  London  Philatelist  will  be  sent,  post  free  in  Great  Britain  or  the  countries 
of  the  Postal  Union,  to  any  subscriber,  on  receipt  of  Gs.  (.$1.50).  Subscribers^  remittances  should 
be  sent  to  Mr.  H.  M.  GoocH,  EFFINGHAM  HOUSE,  Arundel  Street,  Strand,  London,  W.C. 


THE   RECORD 
OF    CONTINUOUS    COLLECTING. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  "  Londoti  Philatelist.'" 

Dear  Sir, —  In  last  month's  London 
Philatelist,  in  the  course  of  an  interesting 
reference  to  Dr.  Legrand's  collection,  you 
say,  "  It  is  probable  that  thirty-five  years  is 
a  record  for  the  unbroken  holding  of  stamps 
by  any  Philatelist."  I  venture  to  think  that 
you  are  in  error  here,  for  there  are,  I  trust, 
many  excellent  collections  now  in  the 
possession  of  their  original  owners  which 
were  commenced  more  than  thirty-five 
years  ago.  I  cannot  claim  the  term 
"excellent"  for  my  own  collection,  but,  such 
as  it  is,  I  have  held  it  and  continued  it 
uninterruptedly  since  I  first  commenced 
making  it  in  1859.  I  well  remember  the 
circumstance  which  first  called  my  attention 
to  stamps.  IMy  father  had  gone  to  India, 
and  my  interest  was  aroused  by  seeing  the 
curious  stamps  (the  first  2  and  4  annas)  that 
came  home  on  his  letters.  The  second  type 
of  these  values  was  in  issue  at  this  time,  and 
I  can  only  account  for  my  father  using  the 
first  types  by  assuming  that  in  the  Western 
provinces,  where  he  was  stationed,  the  old 
stock  had  not  been  used  up.  I  also  noticed 
the  6d.  and  is.  stamps  used  on  the  replies, 
and  asked  him  to  return  them.  With  these 
I  laid  the  foundation  (in  a  partly-used 
Darnell's  copy-book,  with  the  old  familiar 


green  covers)  of  the  collection  which  I  am 
now  proud  to  possess.  It  has  no  special 
merit  in  number  or  value,  being  a  general 
collection  of  perhaps  1 6,000  or  1 8,000  varieties, 
but  it  has  afforded  me  continual  and  ever- 
increasing  pleasure  through  my  school  days 
and  my  whole  subsequent  life.  It  is  quite 
possible  that  some  of  the  specimens  now 
in  my  albums  are  the  identical  ones  which 
at  one  time  reposed  in  the  aforesaid  copy- 
book, and  I  am  at  all  events  prepared 
to  assert  that  I  can  point  to  an  unbroken 
holding  of  stamps  for  thirty-eight  years. 
My  first  catalogue  was  Mount  Brown's,  and 
my  first  price  list  that  I  remember  was 
Young  and  Stockall's,  dated  May,  1865. 
These  I  still  have,  as  well  as  many  other 
old  lists  and  catalogues,  and  the  complete 
sets  of  the  Stamp  Collector's  Magazine  and 
Philatelist.  I  don't  know  that  these  facts 
are  of  interest  to  anyone  but  myself,  but 
your  reference  to  thirty-five  years  as  a  record 
has  prompted  me  to  recall  them. 
Yours  truly, 

Walter  Scott. 

52,  Richmond  Road,  Cardiff, 
Noz'eviber  \^th^  1897. 

[We  insert  with  pleasure  Mr.  Scott's 
interesting  letter,  and  acknowledge  that  he 
has  so  far  broken  the  record  of  a  continuous 
Philatelic  holding.  We  can  only  hope  that 
he  may  be  spared  for  many  years  to  make 
his  experience  unique. — Ed.] 


<^-o 


<=>-^ 


[      337      ] 


®;^e  Parliet. 


5  lo 


4 
13 


8  10 


Messrs.  Ventom,  Bull,  &  Cooper. 
Sale  on  October  14th  and  15th. 

Great  Britain,  2s.,  brown,  unused 
Heligoland,    first    issue,    \    sch., 

green  and  rose  (2),  and  i  sch., 

rose   and   blue -green,   used, 

on    entire,    with     postmark, 

"GEESTEMUENDE      ZOLLVE- 
REIN" 

United  States,   Carrier's  Stamp, 
blue  on  pink 

28th  and  29th. 
Labuan,   wmk.    sideways,    12  c, 

carmine,  unused    . 
Lagos,  los.,  lilac-brown,  unused  . 
Mauritius,    Britannia,   prov.,  46., 

black  on  green,  unused 
Nevis,     lithographed,     is.,    pale 

green,     horizontal,     unused, 

strip  of  3,   imperf.    between 
St.  Vincent,  id.  in  red  on  half  6d., 

blue-green,  unused  pair 
Tobago,  Crown  CA,  6d.,  bistre- 
brown,  unused 
Virgin  Islands,  1887-89,  6d.,  deep 

violet,  entire  sheet  of  24 
Antioquia,  first  issue,  i  peso,  red 
Bolivar,  first  issue,  10  c,  green     . 
P.S.N.  Co.,  I  real,  blue 
Peru,  medio  peso,  rose,  fair 
Brazil,  slanting  figures,  600  reis, 

1dI3.c1c 
N.S.W.,  Sydney,  2d.,  blue,  PI.  I. 

November  nth  and  12th. 

We  have  to  congratulate  this  firm,  who 
have  played  the  leading  part  in  the  re- 
suscitation of  Philatelic  Auctions  in  this 
country,  upon  the  one-hundredth  sale.  It 
will  be  seen,  from  the  following  excerpt  of 
the  lots,  that  not  only  were  the  stamps 
submitted  of  a  fine  class,  but  that  through- 
out good  prices  were  realized.  In  the 
majority  of  instances,  notably  the  European 
stamps,  the  stamps  were  in  fine  condition, 
and  were  this  usually  the  case  at  sales, 
our  foreign  contemporaries  would  cease  to 
wonder  at  the  apparetit  hiatus  in  price 
between  Catalogue  and  Auction  prices. 
With  careful  and  7-diable  descriptions  (and 
we  are  glad  to  note  an  improvement  herein 
this  season),  with  catalogues  issued  well  in 
advance — to  reach  foreign  bidders — and  with 
the  fine  stamps  all  illustrated,  we  are  con- 
vinced that  really  fine  and  rare  stamps  are 
capable  of  the  attainment  of  full  dealers' 
prices.  No  reasonable  collector  could  wish 
for  more — as  a  seller  ! 

Great  Britain,  ;i^i,  brown-lilac  ; 

wmk.  "Three  Crowns"         .       376 


5 

0 

0 

7 

0 

0 

5 

10 

0 

S 

7 

6 

9 

0 

0 

4 

0 

0 

5 

5 

0 

2  marks,  yellow, 

marks,  vermilion 
unused 

15    kr.. 


Gibraltar,    first    issue,   complete, 

unused  ..... 

Mecklenburg- Schwerin,   1S64,    \ 

sch.,  red,  rouletted  (no  gum) 

Hanover,  first  issue,  i  ggr.,  black 

on  blue  (no  gum) 
Ditto,  10  gros.,  green,  unused 
Oldenburg,  first  issue,   j^o,  black 
on  yellow,  unused  (no  gum) . 
Ditto,  second  issue,  1859,  \,  black 
on  green         .... 
Saxony,  3  pf ,  red 
Ditto,  185 1,  ^  ngr.,  black  on  pale 
blue  (error)    .... 
Ditto,  185 1,  2  ngr.,  dark  blue 
Baden,  1862,  perf.  13^,  3kr.,rose, 

unused,  (no  gum)  . 
Bavaria,  1870-73,  i  mark,  imperf., 

unused  horizontal  pair  . 
Wurtemberg,    1857,   9   kr.,   rose, 
unused  ..... 
Ditto,    1859,  thick    paper,   9   kr., 

carmine,  unused    . 
Ditto,  1869-73,  70  kr.,  rose-lilac, 

unused  . 
Ditto,  1875-79, 

unused  . 
Ditto,   ditto,   2 
on  orange, 
Hungary,    lithographed, 

brown,  unused 
Belgium,  1850,  40  c.,  unused 
Bulgaria,     1882,     5     stot.,     rose, 
"error"  .... 

Switzerland,    Basle,    2\    rappen, 

unused  (creased)  . 
Ditto,    Winterthur,    2^    rappen, 

unused  

Naples,  \  tornese,  "cross"  . 

Spain,  1851,  2  reales,  red,  unused 

Ditto,  1853,  2  reales,  vermilion    . 

Servia,  1st  issue,theerror"2  para," 

dark    green    on    pale    rose, 

unused  ..... 

Russia,   1884,  3^  and  7  roubles, 

unused  ..... 

The  Levant,  1865,  20  kop.,  blue 

and  red,  unused    . 
Finland,    1867-70,    wove    paper, 
10  p.,  purple-ljrown  on  grey, 
error      .         .        .         • 
Sweden,  the  error  "  tretio,"  on  20 

ore,  vermilion 
Denmark,  ist  issue,  2  rbs.,  blue, 

unused  

Ceylon,"  Service"  2/-,  red  on  blue, 

imperf,  horizontal  pair 
India,  ist  issue,  ^anna,  red 
Ditto,   4    annas,    red    and    blue, 

unused  horizontal  pair  . 

Ditto,  "Service,"  1867,  2  annas, 

green  on  purple,  unused 


4  10 
7  10 

6  5 

3  3 

6  6 

5  10 

II  o 


10 
5 

4 

4 


o 

o 

o 

o 

o 
o 
6 


5  12 

5     5     o 

4  15     o 

5  5     o 

526 

3  12    6 
3  10    o 

II     00 

500 

S  10  o 

5     5  o 

27  15  o 

9  10  o 

10   10     o 

376 


426 
16  10    o 

476 

16  10    o 
6  IS     o 

5   10    o 
5  15     o 


338 


THE  MARKET. 


Mauritius,  Post  Paid,  2d.,  blue, 
early  plate,  error  "  Penoe," 
unused  .         .         .         .         . 

Ditto,  Greek  border,  2d.,  blue 

Cape  of  Good  Hope,  triangular, 
i/-,  emerald-green,  unused    . 

Ditto,  ditto,  ditto,  i/-,  dark  green, 
unused  .         .        .        .        . 

British  Bechuanaland,  1889,  sur- 
charged "Protectorate,"  i/-, 
2/-,  2/6,  5/-,  and  10/-,  unused 

Zululand,  collection  nearly  com- 
plete, with  5/-,  unused  . 

Gold  Coast,  C  A,  id.,  blue,  unused 

Lagos,  5/-,  blue,  unused 

Sierra  Leone,  wmk.  C  A,  4d.,  blue- 
unused  .... 

British  East  Africa,  1st  issue,  h 
I,  and  4  annas,  unused 

Canada,  lod.,  blue  on  thick  paper 
unused  .... 

Ditto,  i2d.onlaidpaper(defective) 

Newfoundland,4d.,  orange,  unused 

Ditto,  i/-,  orange,  unused    . 

Ditto,  6|d.,  carmine,  unused 

Nova  Scotia,  i/-,  violet,  large 
margins 

United  States,  1851,  24  c,  lilac 
imperf.,  unused 

Ditto,  1 86 1,  5  c,  mustard    . 

Ditto,  "  State,"  $5,  unused   . 

Ditto,  ditto,  Sio,  unused 

Ditto,  ditto,  §20,  unused 

Grenada,  1890-92,  2|d.  on  8d. 
grey-brn.,  inverted  surcharge 

Montserrat,  C  A,  4d.,  blue,  unused 
(no  gum) 

St.  Christopher,  CA,  4d.,  blue 
unused  .... 

Nevis,  litho.,  4d.,  orange,  unused 

Ditto,  ditto,  6d.,  grey,  unused 

Virgin  Islands,  perf.  15,  i/-,  rose- 
carmine,  double -line  frame 
unused  .... 

Barbados,  5/-,  rose,  unused  . 

British  Honduras,  CC,  perf.  14 
6d.,  rose,  unused  . 

Tobago,  CA,  6d.,  bistre-brown 
unused  .... 

St.  Vincent,  5/-,  rose,  unused 

Ditto,  id.  in  red  on  half  of  6d 
blue-green,  unused  pair 

Ditto,  Star  wmk.,  id.,drab,unused 

Turks  Islands,  4d.  on  i/-,  lilac 
(Type  X\'I.),  unused    . 

British  Guiana,  1S62,  provisional 
4  c,  black  on  blue,  pearl  in 
heart  border,  full  roulettes, 
on  original     ... 

Buenos  Ayres,4  pesos,  red,  unused 

Ditto,  5  pesos,  orange,  unused 

Mexico,  Eagle,3  c, brown,  unused 

New  South  Wales,  laureated,  Sd 
orange,  on  piece  of  original 


25  o 
5     o 

8    o 
4  IS 

13     o 

4    o 

10  o 
7     o 

16    o 
3  IS 

7  15 

26  o 

11  o 

27  o 
10  15 

22       5 


4     4 


10 

0 

0 

s 

IS 

0 

19 

5 

0 

10 

S 

0 

9 

0 

0 

4 

IS 

0 

4 

10 

0 

4 

0 

0 

8 

8 

0 

7 

15 

0 

3 

5 

0 

4 

15 

0 

4 

7 

6 

8 

0 

0 

15 

10 

0 

iS 

0 

0 

4 

10 

0 

14 

S 

0 

22 

S 

0 

27 

17 

6 

5 

s 

0 

6  IS 


Victoria,    5/-,    blue    on    yellow, 

unused  ..... 
South   Australia,    ist   issue,    id., 

green,  unused 
New  South  Wales,  laureated,  8d., 

orange-yellow,  no  leaves  to 

right  of  "  South  "  . 


d. 

o 


9  10    o 


6  10    o 


6 

12 

6 

S 

5 

0 

s 

10 

0 

10 

10 

0 

6 

17 

6 

3 

15 

0 

10 

0 

0 

S 

5 

0 

i8 

0 

0 

S 

0 

0 

12 

10 

0 

Mr.  W.  Hadlow. 
October  19th. 
UNUSED    GREAT  BRITAIN, 
id.,  black,  block  of  12 
lod.,  octagonal,  light  brown,  pair 
2d.,  blue.  Small  Crown,  perf.  14 
4d.,  carmine,  wmk.  Small  Garter, 

pair  (one  stained). 
4d.,  rose,  wmk.  Medium  Garter, 

on  white 
3d.,  rose,  secret  dots,  perf.    . 
iW-,  lilac-rose,  on  bleute,  pair 
5s.,  rose,  Plate  IV.,  wmk.  Anchor 
8d.,  brown-lilac,  unused 
los.,  grey,  wmk.  Alaltese  Cross 
2s.,  red-brown,  imperf 
2s.,  „         perf.,  a  pair    . 

4d.,  sage-green,  Plate  XV.,  entire 

pane  (60)      .         .        .        .     11   15     o 

Messrs.  Puttick  &  SIMPSON. 
October  19th  and  20th. 

Nova    Scotia,   6d.,  ytUow-green, 

unused  .         .        .        .770 

Bahamas,  imperf.,  id.,  lake  .       300 

Barbados,  id.  on  half  5s.,  rose,  the 
large  numeral  with  oblique 
serif,  reading  downwards, 
pair        .         .         .         .         -25 

Dominica,  CA,  is.,  mauve,  un- 
used, block  of  4  .         .         .       8 

Trinidad,    lithograph,    id.,   blue, 

early  impression  ...       4 

British  Guiana,  i  c,  rose,  No. 
16  on  plate,  rouletted  on 
three  sides    ....       8 

British  Guiana,  4  c,  blue,  No.  15 

on  plate,  full  roulettes.  .     13 

New  Zealand,  wmk.  "  N  Z,"  id., 

brown    .         .         .         .         .14 

November  2nd  and  3rd. 
Barbados,    imperf,     is.,     black, 

block  of  4  (corner  block)  .      600 

Messrs.  Cheveley  &.  Co. 
October  30th. 
Ceylon,  imperf,  8d.       .         .         .     14  15     o 
Cape,  woodblock,   id.,   carmine- 
red,  unused  .         .        .     13  10    o 
Vancouver  Island,  5  c,  imperf.    .     13  10    o 
United  States,  1869,  24  c,  centre 

inverted         .         .         .        .     22     o    o 


10 

0 

2 

6 

12 

6 

10 

0 

0 

0 

10 

0 

THE 


MlaWfet : 


THE    MONTHLY    JOURNAL    OF 


THE    PHILATELIC   SOCIETY,    LONDON. 


Vol.   VI. 


DECEMBER,    1897. 


No.   72. 


CIj^   spirit  d  ilje  |,ge. 


HE  dominant  feature  in  our  tail-end  of  the  century  is  un- 
doubtedly a  burning  desire  to  become  possessed  of  a  very 
full  share  of  this  world's  goods,  with  the  slightest  expendi- 
ture of  either  our  labour  or  our  time.  The  eight  hours  day 
would  not  do  for  the  modern  racer  after  riches — the  patience 
of  plodding  is  none  of  his.  For  him  it  is  the  concentrated 
excitement  of  a  few  minutes — the  bold  bid  as  to  the  "futures" 
— the  cool  calculation  of  what  should  be  worth  buying  or 
selling  in  big  operations,  or  the  concerted  action  to  secure 
the  monopoly  or  corner  the  market.  A  day's  work,  and 
sometimes  a  risk  of  a  life's  fortune  ! 

The  "childlike  and  bland"  pursuit  of  Philately  is  not 
altogether  unacquainted  with  the  species.  In  the  earlier  portions  of  this 
half  century  collectors  pursued  their  placid  way  and  watched  the  gradual 
growth  of  their  treasures,  content  to  think  that  perfection  of  accumulation 
was  the  work  of  a  lifetime,  or  many  years  at  least.  Whether  for  better 
or  worse  remains  to  be  seen  ;  but  this  is  vastly  changed.  Nowadays  a 
man  decides  after  dinner  that  he  will  "take  up,"  say,  Patagonia,  and  the  next 
morning  charters  a  cab,  buys  every  Patagonian,  wholesale  or  retail,  from 
the  trade  in  his  own  city,  writes  or  wires  to  all  the  leading  dealers  abroad, 
and  in  about  a  week  has  more  Patagonian  stamps  than  the  rest  of  the  world 
combined,  and  has  spent  more  money  than  an  old-time  collector  did  in  a 
decade.  We  have  some  doubts  as  to  the  advantages  of  the  new  system. 
The  price  is  put  up  against  himself  by  the  purchaser,  and  the  meal  is  too 
heavy  and  too  rapidly  taken  to  permit  of  due  Philatelic  digestion.  The 
best  collector  is  "he  who  goes  slowly,"  as  "he  goes  far,"  whereas  an 
inevitable  result  of  rapid  accumulation  is  the  frequently  equally  rapid 
disenchantment  that  follows.     The  operator  for  rises  or  falls  who  "  buys  up  " 


340  NOTES   ON  THE  RAILWAY  LETTER  FEE  STAMPS 

all  stamps  of  a  certain  issue  or  country,  and  who  endeavours  to  corner  the 
market,  is  a  true  child  of  the  age,  and  one  of  a  prolific  family.  He  does  not, 
however,  always  emerge  without  burnt  fingers,  as  the  process  of  "  unloading  " 
a  cornered  article  may  develop  a  considerable  amount  of  friction.  The 
speculator  who  buys  only  things  likely  to  rise,  or  rare  stamps,  is  on  slower  or 
surer  footing  than  the  class  we  have  just  alluded  to,  but  he  misses  all  the  real 
pleasure  of  collecting.  The  steady  and  scientific  collector,  with  infinite 
patience,  will  be  found  best  off  in  the  long  run. 

Nor  is  the  reckless  race  confined  to  amateurs.  Weird  tales  are  repeated 
from  month  to  month  of  the  rapid  accretion  of  cash  or  stocks  on  the  part  of 
leading  members  of  the  trade,  and  in  their  haste  to  grow  rich  no  "apprecia- 
tion of  price  "  is  too  great,  or  no  rise  too  rapid  for  their  balance  at  the  bank. 
In  older  days  a  trader  in  stamps  was  considered  a  fortunate  man  who  secured 
a  competence  after  half  a  lifetime's  work.  At  the  end  of  the  century  a 
handsome  fortune  is  the  expected  guerdon  of  a  few  years'  trading. 

The  soundest  business  is  that  which  is  carried  on  without  haste  to  grow 
rich,  and  the  safest  investment  is  that  which  ripens  slowly  with  the  passing 
years. 


%Q\m  m  i\z  llailtoag  f  dltr  Jf^e  Stamps  of 
(Srmt  ISritain  antr  Ireland. 

A  Paper  read  before  the  Philatelic  Society,  London,  on  November  iqth,   1897. 

By  C.  F.  DENDY  MARSHALL. 


MSMT^HE  stamps  which  are  issued   by  railway  companies   for  the 
'^jl|f     purpose  of  franking  letters   sent   by   train    present   a   field 
^11     which  is  as  full  of  interest  as  it  is  as  yet  unexplored.    Though 
'^^'^      they  were  first  issued  six  years  ago.  Philatelists  seem  for  the 
^^^p         most  part  to  have  left  these  stamps  severely  alone,  and  it 
,'^^r^  -^      is  only  quite  recently  that  any  notice  has  been  taken  of  them, 
and  already  some  have  become  obsolete  and  almost  impossible  to  obtain. 

In  these  days  of  Jubilee  issues  and  Hospital  labels  it  is  a  relief  to  turn  to 
the  harmless  necessary  Railway  stamp,  for  many  a  great  Colony  stoops  to 
tricks  for  obtaining  money  under  false  pretences  which  any  small,  self- 
respecting  railway  company  would  scorn  to  avail  itself  of. 

These  stamps  should  appeal  to  all  specialists  of  our  own  country,  as  they 
are  an  issue  sanctioned  by  the  Government,  and  on  that  account  entitled 
to  rank  above  College  stamps,  which  some  people  set  great  store  by.  Then 
the  fact  of  their  association  with  letters  ought  to  make  them  take  precedence 
of  Telegraph  stamps ;  in  my  opinion  they  come  next  to  the  regular  official 
issue  of  Postage  stamps  in  point  of  interest. 

So  little  being  generally  known  on  the  subject,  it  perhaps  will  be  well  to 
describe  the  circumstances  under  which  these  stamps  are  used. 

When  it  is  desired  to  send  a  letter  by  train,  an  ordinary  penny  stamp  is 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN  AND  IRELAND.  341 

put  on,t  and  the  letter  is  taken  to  the  parcels  office  at  a  railway  station  and 
handed  over  to  an  official,  together  with  twopence,  in  return  for  which  he 
forwards  the  letter  by  the  next  train,  having  previously  affixed  a  Railway 
stamp.  According  to  the  address,  it  is  either  posted  on  arrival  at  the  nearest 
point  to  its  destination  or  left  at  the  station  to  be  called  for  by  the  addressee. 
These  stamps  are  difficult  to  obtain  in  an  unused  state,  as  many  companies 
decline  to  sell  them. 

The  system  came  into  operation  on  February  2nd,  1891. 

All,  with  a  few  exceptions,  conform  more  or  less  closely  to  one  general 
type,  and  are  lithographed  in  green  on  wove  paper  without  any  watermark. 
The  general  type  is  about  the  size  of  the  5s.  postage  stamp.  The  central  design 
is  a  white  shield,  bearing  a  large  figure  "  2  "  with  a  small  capital  "  D.,"  below 
which  is  a  dash,  and  below  this  a  dot.  The  background  to  the  shield  is  solid 
colour.  Round  it  is  a  circular  band,  containing  the  words  "  FEE  FOR  CONVEY- 
ANCE OF  SINGLE  POST  LETTERS  "  in  block  capitals.  At  the  top  and  bottom 
of  the  stamp  are  two  oblong  labels,  containing  the  name  of  the  railway ;  on 
each  side  are  vertical  ornaments,  consisting  of  short  thick  lines  surrounded  by 
thin  ones.  The  triangular  spaces  at  the  corners,  formed  by  the  circular  band, 
are  filled  either  with  diagonal  lines  or  with  foliate  ornaments. 

All  in  the  following  list  will  be  understood  to  be  of  the  general  type, 
green  in  colour,  and  perforated,  unless  specially  described.  Occasionally 
differences  of  perforation  may  be  met  with,  but  for  the  present  it  has 
been  thought  best  to  ignore  these. 

A  list  will  be  found  in  the  Postal  Guide  of  the  railway  companies  which 
have  entered  into  an  agreement  with  the  Postmaster-General  to  convey 
letters.  But  this  list  is  unsatisfactory  from  a  collector's  point  of  view  for  two 
reasons :  firstly,  it  sometimes  includes  and  sometimes  omits  those  that  have 
become  obsolete ;  and  secondly,  many  lines  are  set  down  therein  which  have 
never  had  any  stamps  of  their  own.  The  following  list  contains  any  remarks 
which  apply  to  individual  stamps.  In  each  case,  with  the  exception  of  those 
marked  with  an  asterisk,  which  I  have  not  seen,  the  title  of  the  railway  given 
is  in  the  exact  words  or  abbreviations  used  on  the  stamps. 

I.    ENGLAND,  WALES,  AND  SCOTLAND. 

Aylesbury  &.  Buckingham  Railway.  These  stamps  are  now  obsolete,  having 
been  superseded  by  the  Metropolitan.  They  were  printed  in  sheets  of  twelve, 
in  two  horizontal  rows  of  six.  They  are  rouletted,  and  bear  a  black  control 
number. 

Ayrshire  and  Wigtownshire  Railway.*  These  are  also  obsolete.  The  stamps 
now  used  in  this  part  of  the  country  are  Glasgow  and  South  Western,  and 
Portpatrick  and  Wigtownshire  Joint. 

Barry  Railway.     These  have  a  black  control  number. 

Brecon  &.  Merthyr  Railway. 

Caledonian  Railway  Company. 

t  Although  we  do  not  gainsay  the  interest  attaching  to  these  stamps,  we  consider  that  the  postage 
is  defrayed  only  by  the  adhesive  Government  stamp,  and  that  the  Railway  stamps  only  represent  a  fee 
for  accelerated  service. — Eu. 


342  NOTES   ON   THE  RAILWAY  LETTER   FEE  STAMPS 

Cambrian  Railways.  These  are  of  a  peculiar  design  ;  there  is  no  shield,  and  the 
corners  are  filled  in  with  a  latticework  pattern. 

Cheshire  Lines  Committee. 

City  of  Glasgow  Union.*     These  are  obsolete.     I  am  by  no  means  certain  that 

they  ever  existed. 
Cleator  &  Workington  Junction  Railway. 
Cockermouth,  Keswick  &  Penrith  Railway. 

Colne  Valley  Railway.     These  are  peculiar,  as  they  have  an  ornament  of  leaves 

in  the  vertical  spaces  on  either  side. 
East  and  West  Junction  Railway.     Black  control  number. 
Eastern  and   Midlands  Railway.     These  are  obsolete,  having  been  superseded 

by  the  Midland  and  Great  Northern  Joint. 
The  Furness  Railways.     Rouletted  with  coloured  lines. 
Garstang  &  Knot  End  Railway.     Rouletted,  black  control  number. 
Glasgow  &  South  Western  Railway. 
Great  Central  Railway.     Issued  1897. 
Great  Eastern  Railway. 
Great  North  of  Scotland  Railway. 
Great  Northern  Railway. 
Great  Western  Railway.     There  are  two  very  distinct  types  of  these;  the  space 

between  the  shield  and  the  circular  band  in  the  first  is  as  usual  solid  colour, 

in  the  second  it  is  composed  of  thin  horizontal  lines. 

The  Highland  Railway  Company. 

Hull  &  Barnsley  Company.     These  are  on  laid  paper. 

Lancashire  &  Yorkshire  Railway. 

Lancashire,  Derbyshire,  &  East  Coast  Railway.  These  show  no  attempt 
to  imitate  the  usual  type.  "2?;"  is  in  an  oval  with  the  longer  axis  horizontal, 
the  sides  have  a  zigzag  ornamentation,  the  title  of  the  railway  is  wholly  at  the 
top,  and  the  words  "  Fee  for  conveyance,"  etc.,  are  contained  in  a  space 
below  the  figure  instead  of  a  circular  band. 

London  and  North  Western  Railway.     Rouletted,  with  black  control  number. 

London  and  South  Western  Railway.  These  are  printed  in  sheets  of  twelve 
in  four  horizontal  rows  of  three. 

London,  Brighton,  and  South  Coast  Railway. 

London,  Chatham,  &  Dover  Railway. 

London,  Tilbury,  &  Southend  Railway. 

Macclesfield  Committee. 

Manchester  &  Milford  Railway.     Rouletted,  with  black  control  number. 

Manchester,  Sheffield,  &  Lincolnshire  Railway.  These  are  now  obsolete, 
as  the  name  has  been  changed  this  year  to  Great  Central.  They  were  printed 
in  sheets  of  twelve  in  four  horizontal  rows  of  three.  The  second  and  fourth 
stamps  down  the  left  side  are  different  from  the  rest,  as  they  have  a  single 
line  instead  of  two  along  the  top  of  the  stamp. 

Manchester,  South  Junction,  &  Altrincham  Railway.  Black  control 
number. 


OF  GREAT  BRITAIN  AND  IRELAND.  343 

Maryport  &  Carlisle  Railway  Company. 

Metropolitan  Railway.  These  are  red-brown,  with  a  black  control  number. 
They  are  only  used  on  the  section  between  Baker  Street  and  Verney  Junction. 

Midland  Railway.  These  words  occur  both  at  the  top  and  bottom  of  the  stamp. 
There  is  a  black  control  number. 

Midland  &  Great  Northern  Joint  Railways. 

Midland  &  South  Western  Junction  Railway. 

Neath  and  Brecon  Railway. 

Northampton  &  Banbury  Junction  Railway. 

North  British  Railway  Company. 

North  Eastern  Railway.  The  first  issue  of  these  was  red  in  error.  The 
inscription  is  also  curious.  That  in  the  circular  band,  instead  of  the  usual 
formula,  is  "To  be  used  only  for  letters  bearing  a  jjostage  stamp."  At 
the  top  is  "  North  Eastern  Railway,"  and  below  are  the  words  "  Railway  Letter 
Post."  These  were  withdrawn  almost  immediately,  and  their  place  was  taken 
by  green  ones  with  the  usual  inscriptions.  Both  kinds  have  a  black  control 
number. 

North  London  Railway.     Rouletted,  with  black  control  number. 

North  Staffordshire  Railway. 

Oldham,  Ashton,  &  Guide  Bridge  Railway. 

Pembroke  &  Tenby  Railway.     Black  control  number. 

Portpatrick  &  Wigtownshire  Railways. 

Rhondda  &  Swansea  Bay  Railway. 

Rhymney  Railway.     Rouletted,  with  black  control  number. 

Severn  and  Wye  and  Severn  Bridge  Railway. 

Sheffield  &  Midland  Railways  Committee. 

South  Eastern  Railway.  There  are  two  distinct  types  of  these  ;  besides  all  other 
points,  the  earlier  ones  have  the  corners  filled  with  diagonal  lines,  whereas 
the  later  have  foliate  ornaments.  Both  of  these,  together  with  those  of 
the  four  following  railways,  have  black  control  numbers. 

Southwold  Railway.     Rouletted. 

Taff  Vale  Railway. 

West  Lancashire  Railway. 

Wrexham,  Mold,  and  Connah's  Quay  Ry.     Rouletted. 

II.   lEELAND. 

B   llycastle  Railway.     This  and  the  two  following  railways  are  printed  in  a  pale 

olive  shade. 
Belfast  and  County  Down  Railway.  1  Both  of  these  are  printed  in  sheets 

Belfast  and  Northern  Counties  Railway.  /      of  nine  in  three  rows  of  three. 

Cavan,  Leitrim,  and  Roscommon  Lt.  Rally. 
Clogher  Valley  Tramway  Co.,  Ltd. 

Cork,  Bandon,  and  South  Coast  Railway.  These  have  a  tiny  control 
number  in  green  just  above  the  left  top  corner  of  the  stamp. 

Cork,  Blackrock,  and  Passage  Railway. 


344  NOTES  ON  RAILWAY  LETTER  FEE  STAMPS. 

Cork  &  Macroom  Direct  Railway,  These  are  ultramarine,  in  sheets  of  eight 
in  two  horizontal  rows  of  four. 

Donegal  Railway  Company.     Rouletted,  with  coloured  lines. 

Dublin,  Wicklow,  &  Wexford  Railway. 

Dundalk,  Newry,  and  Greenore  Railway. 

Finn    Valley    Railway    Company.      These    are    obsolete,    as    this    has   been 

amalgamated  with  the  West  Donegal,  and  the  whole  system  is  now  known  as 

the  Donegal  Railway. 

Great  Northern  Railway  Company.  (I.) 
Great  Southern  and  Western  Railway. 

Kanturk  &  Newmarket  Railway  Company.  These  are  now  obsolete,  as 
the  line  has  been  taken  over  by  the  G.S.  and  W.R.  (1896). 

Londonderry  &  Lough  Swilly  Railway  Company.  (I.)  These  are  the  most 
startling  departures  of  all,  as  they  are  dark  blue,  and  instead  of  the  shield  being 
inscribed  "2°"  it  bears  the  legend  "1"?."  They  are  slightly  longer  than  the 
general  type. 

Midland  Great  Western  Railway. 

Sligo,  Leitrim,  and  Northern  Counties  Railway.     These  are  pale  olive. 

Waterford  and  Limerick  Railway.  There  are  two  distinct  printings  of  these, 
one  rather  fine,  and  the  other  thick  and  rough.  They  are  now  obsolete,  the 
name  having  been  changed  to  Waterford,  Limerick,  and  Western. 

Waterford  and  Tramore  Railway. 

Waterford,  Dungarvan,  &  Lismore  Railway.  These  are  scarlet,  printed  in 
sheets  of  twenty-four  in  four  rows  of  six. 

Waterford,  Limerick,  &  Western  Railway. 

West  Clare  Railway  Company. 

West  Donegal  Railway.*     (See  note  on  Finn  Valley.) 

I  think  it  will  be  well  in  conclusion  to  give  a  list  of  those  companies 
which  are  included  in  the  list  in  the  Postal  Guide,  and  have  hitherto  been 
given  in  catalogues,  but  which,  I  have  ascertained  on  good  authority,  have 
never  had  stamps  of  their  own,  but  use  those  of  some  larger  company. 


Central  Wales  &  Carmarthen  Junction. 
Liverpool,  Southport,  &  Preston  Junction. 
Seacombe,  Hoylake,  &  Deeside. 


Athenry  and  Ennis  Junction. 
Athenry  &  Tuam. 
Clara  &  Banagher. 
Derry  Central. 


Enniskillen,  Bundoran,  &  Sligo. 

Fermoy  &  Lismore. 

Kilkenny  Junction. 

Limerick  &  Kerry. 

Rathkeale  &  Newcastle  Junction. 

Southern. 

Tralee  &  Fenit. 


■l^ngJ^ 


[      345      ] 


iI;tlHtcHx  |(0t£s. 


Note. — The  co-operation  of  Philatelists  is  invited  in  order  to  make  this  column  of  a  varied 

and  interesting  nature. 


GOLD  COAST,   \D.,   CA. 

R.  W.  T.  Wilson  writes  to  inform  us  that  he  has  seen  that  desirable 
stamp,   the    id.,   blue,  wmk.    C  A,  perf.    14,  with   a  postmark    dated 


October  31st,  1883.  The  date  of  issue  is  variously  given  in  the  catalogues; 
e.g.,  Stanley  Gibbons,  1884;  Moens  (i*),  1884;  Senf,  1883;  and  Scott  Stamp 
and  Coin  Company's  Advanced  Catalogue,  1886. 


CAPE   OF  GOOD  HOPE. 

LTHOUGH  the  last  find  is  not  a  discovery  as  to  a  new  variety,  it  is 
in  legal  phrase  a  "  discovery  "  of  a  remarkably  interesting  nature.  One 
of  the  charms  of  stamp  collecting  is  the  infinite  possibilities  of  bygone 
issues  being  unearthed,  but  it  is  rare  indeed  that  these  relics  of  the  past  are 
turned  up  in  uncut  sheets— except  in  the  disturbed  dream  of  the  Philatelist. 
The  stamps  in  question  are  the  One  Shilling,  green,  printed  by  Messrs. 
Perkins,  Bacon  and  Co.,  and  the  so-called  emerald-green  of  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope,  that  was  printed  by  Messrs.  De  La  Rue  &  Co.  on  the  old  paper. 
The  following  extract  from  the  minutes  of  the  Birmingham  Philatelic 
Society  of  the  18th  November  includes  some  interesting  observations  as 
regards  the  former: — 

"  Dr.  Lyon  exhibited  a  complete  uncut  sheet  of  is.  medium  green  triangular  Capes 
in  mint  condition.  This  valuable  and  interesting  exhibit  allowed  the  members 
an  opportunity  of  noting  the  arrangement  of  the  stamps,  the  spacings,  and  the  water- 
marks. The  whole  sheet,  allowing  an  average  for  the  deckle  edges,  is  28i  inches  by 
1 1,  the  space  occupied  by  the  stamps — 240  in  number  in  15  rows  of  16 — is  19J  x  lOj^j. 
inches.  The  space  between  the  stamps  making  a  pair  is  fairly  even  all  over  the  sheet, 
and  is  about  i^  mm.  The  space  between  pairs  in  the  same  row  is  much  more 
irregular,  and  varies  from  i;^  to  2  mm.  The  spaces  between  the  rows  are  nearly  twice 
as  great  as  between  the  stamps  on  each  row,  and  vary  from  2^  to  3  mm. 

"The  Anchor  wmk.  is  very  evenly  placed  in  the  centre  of  each  stamp,  while 
the  whole  sheet  is  surrounded  by  a  watermark  of  five  parallel  lines,  the  total  width  of 
which  is  2V  of  an  inch.  The  outer  four  lines  are  interrupted  in  six  places,  once  at 
the  top,  once  at  the  bottom,  and  twice  at  each  side  by  the  word  POSTAGE,  2^^  by 
^^^  inches,  in  open  Roman  capitals." 

As  regards  the  latter — the  De  La  Rue  Issue — we  have  not  had  the 
opportunity  of  inspecting  the  sheet,  but  are  informed  by  those  who  have, 
that  it  is  in  very  fine  condition,  and  that  it  was  a  real  find,  having  turned  up 
in  a  mass  of  old  papers,  supposed  to  be  of  very  little  value,  but  containing 


346 


PHILATELIC  NOTES. 


a  certain  number  of  curiosities,  amongst  which  this  will  certainly  take  the 
highest  place. 

The  November  number  of  the  Monthly  Journal  describes  this  sheet 
as  follows,  but  it  is  very  curious  that,  contrary  to  the  statement  therein 
made  as  to  no  other  specimen  having  been  seen,  a  second  sheet  of  such 
previously  issued  sheet  should  also  turn  up  ! : — 

"The  sheet  is  in  excellent  condition,  perfectly  clean,  with  original  gum,  and 
margins,  except  where  a  single  pair  has  been  cut  out,  quite  complete ;  and  one  can 
only  wonder  what  led  its  original  owner  to  stow  away  nearly  ;^i2  worth  of  stamps 
(face  value)  in  this  manner,  for  there  can  be  Httle  doubt  that  it  has  never  before  been 
in  the  hands  of  a  stamp  collector,  and  it  would  appear  to  have  been  accidentally  pre- 
served, as  no  other  stamps  of  so  early  a  date  have  yet  been  found  in  the  pile.  The 
impression  is  not  even  in  tint  throughout,  and  it  seems  evident  that  either  one  end  of 
the  plate  was  somewhat  worn,  or  that  end  was  not  so  heavily  inked  as  the  other  when 
this  impression  was  printed,  one  end  of  the  sheet  being  distinctly  paler  in  shade,  and 
showing  a  slight  want  of  ink  at  some  of  the  points  where  the  corners  of  four  stamps 
meet.     The  other  part  of  the  sheet  is  of  a  beautiful  deep  colour." 


ZANZIBAR  AND   B.   E.   AFRICA. 
E  have  to  acknowledge  with  thanks  the  following  interesting  note  from 
Mr.  Cyril  H.  Bowden,  written  at  Zanzibar  on  the  26th  November,  and 
heartily  w^elconie  the  intelligence  that  there  is  likely  to  be  peace  in  the  land : 

"I  am  enclosing  a  few  additional  particulars  anent  the  provisional  issues  of 
Zanzibar  and  British  East  Africa,  which  I  trust  you  may  find  of  interest. 

"  I  think  there  remains  little  further  to  be  said  regarding  the  above  issues,  and  it 
appears  most  unlikely  that  any  necessity  will  arise  in  the  near  future  for  surcharging  or 
overprinting. 

"  An  impression,  I  understand,  exists  that  the  current  Zanzibar  stamp  is  likely  to 
be  superseded  by  another  type  of  adhesive,  bearing  the  portrait  of  the  present  Sultan. 

"  I  am  assured  by  Mr.  Remington,  however,  that  any  such  change  is  most 
improbable,  and  that  the  only  one  at  present  in  contemplation  is  in  connection  with 
the  Protectorate  stamps,  the  higher  values  of  which  it  is  proposed  to  increase  to  a  size 
corresponding  with  that  of  the  current  British  India  and  Zanzibar  issues." 

B.  E.  A.  STAMPS. 

OVERPRINTED    'ZANZIBAR.' 

June  1st,  1896. 


CURRENT  ISSUE,  ZANZIBAR. 

STAMPS   OVERPRINTED   '  B.  E.  A.' 

January  1-5,  1897. 


Annas. 
1 


I     surcharged  i\ 

2 

3    surcharged  2i 

5 
1\ 


No.  Issued. 

.  1500 

.  4200 

.  3000 

.  2400 

.  3600 

.  1800 

.  1800 

.  1800 


mnas. 

m/                                                   t                      ^ 

No.  Issued. 

* 

•                                               •                                               •                                                • 

.    1800 

I 

• 

.    1800 

2* 

August  1 2th,  1896. 

.    1200 

\\ 

2460 

s 

.   1800 

1\ 

.     i8cx) 

'ZANZIBAR'   SURCHARGE. 
January  5th. 
4    surcharged  2! 


4200 


"Note. — The  i  anna  surcharged  2!,  as  catalogued,  was  never  officially  printed  and  issued 
for  Zanzibar;  and,  if  in  existence,  must  be  fraudulent.  I  should  be  glad  to  know  if 
the  red  surcharge  appears  to  have  been  stencilled  instead  of  printed." 


[      347      ] 


aastonal  llolcs. 


oKKo 


INTERNATIONAL   POSTAL  INCOMES. 
JE  had  always  proudly  thought  our  prepaid  postal  system  was  not  only 

. I  the  first  but  the  largest  in  the  world.     Our  insular  pride  has,  however, 

been  rudely  shocked  by  reading  the  enclosed  in  the  daily  papers.  We 
fancy,  however,  that  the  concluding  sentence  must  be  of  considerable  import, 
and  that  "  postal  traffic  "  covers  a  multitude  of  business  :— 

"The  statistics  for  1896,  just  published  by  the  World's  Postal  Union,  reveal  the 
fact  that  the  postal  traffic  of  Germany  involves  a  greater  expenditure  and  brings  in  a 
larger  income  than  that  of  any  other  country  in  the  world.  The  five  most  important 
countries  from  a  postal  point  of  view  are  :-Germany :  income,  486,000,000  f  ; 
expenditure,  469,000,000  f  America:  income,  398,000,000  f ;  expenditure, 
449,000,000  f  England:  income,  286,000,000  f ;  expenditure,  202,000,000  f 
France:  income,  224,000,000  f ;  expenditure,  174,000,000  f  Russia:  mcome, 
160,000,000  f;  expenditure,  1 16,000,000  f  One  reason  for  the  largeness  ^of  the 
figures  for  Germany  is  the  fact  that  the  telephone  is  a  Government  monopoly." 


POSTAGE  STAMP  SWINDLES. 
CORRESPONDENT  has  kindly  sent  us  a  cutting  from  a  recent  number  of 

Tit-Bits  under   the   above  heading,  which   for  vain    and   unblushing 

effrontery  must  be  almost  "  unique."  We  can  only  trust  that  the  publicity 
afi-orded  by  the  Press  may  be  the  means  of  stopping  the  nefarious  career  of 
this  scoundrel,  who  certainly  ought  to  see  the  inside  of  the  Old  Bailey,  even 
if  he  has  been  there  before  : — 

"  Recently  I  visited  the  workshop  of  a  foreign  stamp-faker.  His  rooms,  situated 
in  an  obscure  court  in  the  City,  looked  like  the  abode  of  a  waste-paper  merchant, 
from  the  number  of  sacks  of  paper  and  old  envelopes  stowed  in  every  corner.  After 
a  satisfactory  explanation  as  to  my  business,  I  was  permitted  to  enter  a  small  room 
behind  the  shop.  The  first  thing  noticeable  was  the  extraordinary  number  of  rubber 
and  brass  stamps  hung  on  racks  round  the  wall.  These  were  used  for  postmarking 
stamps  which  had  been  placed  on  telegrams.  Although  these  stamps  are  very  good 
and  clear  specimens,  they  are  practically  valueless  to  most  collectors  without  a  post- 
mark. This  our  worthy  friend  supplies.  I  was  then  shown  a  parcel  containing  about 
600  sixpenny  Gold  Coast  stamps,  which  had  been  used  on  bills  of  lading  for  the 
stamp  duty  and  cancelled  by  writing  the  date  in  ink  across  them,  as  we  do  receipt 
stamps.  These  our  dealer  had  bought  for  a  nominal  sum  (about  four  a  penny),  and 
which  in  the  course  of  a  day  or  two  he  hoped  to  sell— all  bearing  a  postmark,  and  in 
every  way  identical  to  the  legitimate  postage  stamps— at  4d.  each,  showing  a  hand- 
some profit  of  ^9  78.  6d.  on  the  parcel.  His  process  of  converting  the  fiscal  stamps 
to  postal  is  extremely  simple.     By  means  of  an  acid  used  on  a  fine  gold  pen  he 


348  OCCASIONAL  NOTES. 

carefully  removes  the  ink  marks,  then  with  a  hand-stamp  the  postmark,  date,  etc., 
are  applied,  and  this,  when  done  neatly,  covers  any  trace  of  the  acid  manipulation,  and 
thus  the  stamp  is  ready  for  the  unsuspecting  buyer.  By  this  means  some  really 
valuable  stamps,  which  when  used  on  telegrams  would  only  realize  a  few  pence, 
are  converted  into  specimens  worth  several  shillings.  Our  dealer  then  showed  me 
with  pride  two  of  the  penny  black  English  stamps,  one  of  which  had  a  Maltese 
cross  in  each  corner,  and  the  other  V.R.  in  the  top  corners,  the  former  being  worth 
to-day  id.  and  the  other  _;^5  ;  yet  he  assured  me  they  were  both  the  same  stamps, 
and  before  he  had  removed  the  top  crosses  with  chemicals  and  etched  the  V.R. 
in  their  place  were  worth  only  id.  each.  The  transformation  had  been  so  cleverly 
done  that  in  spite  of  a  powerful  hand-glass  I  was  unable  to  detect  any  alteration. 
He  then  showed  me  an  old  Australian  stamp,  catalogued  by  the  dealers  when  a  perfect 
specimen  at  ;^2o.  This  appeared  in  excellent  preservation,  and  after  a  careful 
examination  I  pronounced  it  perfect.  He  then  wetted  it,  when  a  fine  line  was 
observed  running  across  its  face.  This,  he  explained,  was  caused  by  its  being  joined 
or  pieced  together  from  two  damaged  stamps  cut  into  pieces  to  fit.  The  joins  were  so 
accurate  as  to  be  unnoticeable  until  wetted." 


KROTZSCH'S  HANDBOOK  ON  GERMAN  STAMPS. 


M 


HIS  elaborate  and  scientific  work  has  been  in  course  of  publication  for 
the  past  two  or  three  years,  but  has  been  temporarily  suspended  with 
a  view  to  the  members  of  the  Dresden  Philatelic  Society  becoming  sub- 
scribers. It  would  appear  that  the  time  allowed  for  notification  on  the  part 
of  members  to  Mr.  Krotzch  has  expired,  but  that  only  54  names  have 
been  sent  in  out  of  the  2000  members  of  that  body  !  It  is  to  be  hoped, 
now  that  the  author  has  extended  the  time  of  notification  of  subscription 
to  the  1st  January  next,  that  the  requisite  number  will  be  forthcoming,  and 
that  no  further  delay  may  take  place  in  the  appearance  of  a  work  of  such  great 
importance  and  excellence.  The  information  contained  in  the  handbook  is 
of  the  greatest  value  to  the  collector,  while  the  copious  illustrations,  inclusive 
of  all  postmarks — reproduced  in  fac-siviile  by  photo-lithographic  process — 
should  be  simply  invaluable  to  the  student  of  German  stamps.  The  Father- 
land boasts  many  of  these,  and  it  will  not  redound  to  the  credit  of  Philately 
in  Germany  if  so  brilliant  a  piece  of  work  is  allowed  to  go  under.  In  the 
writer's  experience  this  work  has  repaid  itself  many  times  by  the  knowledge 
it  has  imparted.  Intending  subscribers  should  apply  as  early  as  possible  to 
Mr.  H.  Krotzsch,  22,  Lange  Strasse,  Leipsic. 


AWKWARD  FIGURES  IN  LEEWARD  ISLANDS  SURCHARGES. 

E  have  received  communications  from  Mons.  J.  B.  Moens,  Messrs. 
Whitfield  King  and  Co.,  and  others,  on  the  subject  of  the  Sexagenary 
stamps.  The  official  returns,  which  were  given  in  our  last  issue,  are 
apparently  not  very  reliable.  After  comparing  various  figures  which  have 
been  supplied  to  us,  we  can  only  come  to  one  of  two  conclusions :  either 
that  in  order  to  make  up  the  remainders  into  saleable  lots,  as  shown  in 
the  official  document  of  October  ist,  a  reprint  of  certain  values  has  taken 


OCCASIONAL  NOTES. 


349 


place  prior  to  the  destruction  of  the  die,  which  was  certified  on  the  date 
given  above,  or  else  that  stocks  purchased  for  the  purposes  of  speculation 
have  been  returned  to  the  authorities. 

The  following  table  gives  at  a  glance  the  various  official  figures  which 
have  been  supplied  : — 

No.  Sold. 
12,963 
12,811 
9833 

4747 
2690 
2687 
1743 

784 

How  comes  it  then  that  tenders  are  invited  for  a  quantity  of  stamps 
which  in  the  2|d.,  4d.,  6d.,  i/-,  and  5/-  values  exceeds  considerably  the 
totals  printed,  and  that  in  the  i/-  and  5/-  values  the  quantity  to  be 
tendered  for  is  exactly  600  of  each  value  .■' 

The  absurdity  of  the  whole  business,  from  a  Philatelic  point  of  view, 
as  well  as  the  more  serious  reflection  upon  the  probity  of  the  Colonial  Post 
Office  in  the  island,  will  be  apparent  to  everyone. 

Collectors  may  judge  from  the  present  instance  only  of  the  absolute 
necessity  for  the  active  operations  of  bodies  like  the  S.S.S.S.  Without  some 
such  means  of  calling  the  attention  of  the  Philatelic  world  to  these  abuses 
of  authority,  they  would  inevitably  increase  and  multiply. 


Value. 

No.  Printed 

id. 

15,600 

id.  . 

15,600 

2ld. 

15,000 

4d.  . 

6000 

6d.  . 

3480 

7d.  . 

3480 

I/-- 

1800 

5/-. 

900 

Remainders. 

Tenders  for 

2637 

2637 

2789 

2789 

5167 

5407* 

1253 

1493* 

790 

1030* 

793 

793 

57 

600* 

116 

600* 

d  for  a  quai 

itity  of  sta 

REDUCTION  OF  CANADIAN  POSTAL  RATES. 

E  notice  from  various  of  our  contemporaries  that  the  Dominion  of 
\  Canada  Government  has  decided  to  reduce  the  postal  rates  between 
the  Colony  and  the  other  portions  of  the  British  Empire.  The  importance 
of  this  step,  which  we  trust  may  be  the  means  of  hastening  a  similar  action 
on  the  part  of  the  Home  Government,  will  be  seen  when  we  say  that  after 
January  1st  next  it  will  be  possible  to  send  a  letter  of  one  ounce  weight 
from  Canada  to  any  portion  of  the  British  Empire,  outside  the  Dominion, 
for  a  sum  of  i^d.  instead  of,  as  at  present,  5d. 


THE  REQUIREMENTS  OF  A  MODERN  CATALOGUE. 
N  reviewing  the  new  Scott  Stamp  and  Coin  Co.'s  Catalogue  we  have 
made  certain  remarks  as  to  the  advisability  of  not  overloading  a  work 
required  for  general  use.  On  previous  occasions  our  views  have  also  been 
expressed  that  the  minute  variations  of  type,  shade,  etc.,  are  better  left  to  the 
handbook  or  specialised  catalogue.  As  elsewhere  mentioned  in  this  number, 
we  do  not  counsel  the  absolute  passing  over  of  these  minor  varieties,  but 
think  that  anything  important  should  be  included  in  the  ordinary  catalogue. 


350  OCCASIONAL  NOTES. 

but  as  a  sub-type  in  smaller  print,  while  the  less  striking  varieties  and  minor 
shades  could  be  hinted  at  in  footnotes  to  the  respective  issue. 

There  are,  however,  many  dissentients  even  from  this  modification,  and 
we  have  heard  and  read  many  adverse  comments  hereon,  both  in  this  country 
and  America. 

The  Philatelic  World  for  December,  which  has  come  to  hand  since  our 
remarks  on  the  new  catalogue  were  printed,  has  some  very  pertinent  and 
sensible  remarks  in  allusion  to  the  new  "  Scott,"  which  we  venture  to 
reproduce  to  our  readers,  as  clearly  setting  forth  the  views  of  the  opponents 
of  over-elaboration  : — 

"While  the  book  is  undoubtedly  a  great  addition  to  Philatelic  literature,  we 
are  sorry  that  the  publishers  have  seen  fit  to  include  shades,  errors,  etc.,  in  a  catalogue 
which  is  meant  to  be  for  general  use.  The  number  of  people  who  collect  shades  and 
minor  varieties  probably  does  not  exceed  one-half  of  one  per  cent,  of  the  number 
who  will  buy  the  catalogue,  and  a  large  number  of  the  other  99^  per  cent,  will 
try  their  patience  sorely  in  a  vain  endeavour  to  determine  whether  the  12  ore 
Denmark  they  have  is  bright  lilac  and  grey,  dull  magenta  and  grey,  dull  magenta 
and  slate,  dull  lake  and  grey,  or  dull  lake  and  slate.  We  venture  to  assert  that 
out  of,  say,  25,000  of  any  one  stamp  that  comes  in  shades,  there  could  be  found 
many  times  as  many  distinct  shades  as  are  catalogued  in  the  1898  Scott  Catalogue. 
Then  why  attempt  to  catalogue  shades  when  it  is  impossible  to  give  a  complete 
list?  and  any  list  of  shades  complete  or  incomplete  only  tends  to  bewilder  and 
confuse  the  average  collector.  If  shades  are  to  be  catalogued  at  all  the  proper 
place  for  them  is  in  a  catalogue  like  The  Catalogue  for  Advanced  Collectors, 
and  not  in  a  catalogue  intended  for  the  average  collector  and  those  just  starting 
a  collection." 


THE  POSTAL    UNION  COLOURS. 

HERE  is  one  point  made  very  clear  by  the  official  dementi  inserted 
among  the  New  Issues ;  i.e.,  that  no  alteration  is  to  be  made  on  the 
1st  January  next.  The  date  for  the  presumed  alteration  in  the  colours  of 
these  low  value  stamps  was  given  to  us  on  credible  authority  as  January  ist, 
1898,  but  it  is  obvious  that  January  ist,  1899,  is  nearer  the  mark.  It 
remains,  however,  to  be  seen  whether  many  of  the  Governments  will  not 
antedate  this;  e.g.,  Austro-Hungary,  which  announces  a  new  issue  early  in 
the  year,  would  surely  be  well  advised  to  at  once  select  the  colours  that 
are  required  by  the  Postal  Union. 


THE  HOSPITAL  STAMP. 


GENERAL  meeting  of  the  Council  of  the   Prince  of  Wales'   Hospital 
Fund  for  London  was  held  on  the  20th  December  at  Marlborough 

House,  the  Prince  of  Wales,  President  of  the  Fund,  taking  the  chair. 

In    his  financial    statement   Lord    Rothschild,  the   Treasurer,  said    that 

"  there  was  at  the  present  moment,  at  the  Bank  of  England  and  other  banks, 

a  sum  of  ;^ 1 87,000,  a  part  of  which — ^^99,000 — had  been  invested  in  Securities. 

Of  that  ;^ 1 87,000,  ^^20,500  had  been  received  as  annual  subscriptions,  and 


OCCASIONAL  NOTES.  35i 

;f  1500  as  interest  from  moneys  invested  ;  so  that  the  income  of  the  Fund  so 
far  amounted  to  about  ;^22,ooo.  In  addition,  the  Fund  would  receive 
towards  the  end  of  the  year  ;^38,ooo  to  ^^40,000  from  the  sale  of  the  Hospital 
Stamps." 

In  the  course  of  his  speech,  H.R.H.  the  Prince  of  Wales  said:  "I  am 
ready  to  spend  every  sixpence  of  our  income,  but  I  confess  it  was  with  great 
reluctance  that  I  gave  way  on  the  point  of  spending  any  of  our  capital.  At 
the  same  time,  the  question  of  the  Hospital  Stamps,  which  will  realize  about 
;^40,000,  is  a  special  thing,  and  I  think  we  may  put  this  amount  aside  from 
the  sums  we  have  received  from  other  institutions  and  from  other  people." 

The  raising  of  no  less  than  ^40,000  by  means  of  selling  adhesive  receipt 
labels  is  indeed  "  prodigious  "  ;  and  while  we  most  heartily  congratulate  the 
illustrious  Chairman  upon  the  success  of  the  scheme,  we  none  the  less  realize 
that  stamp  collecting  has   been   brought  within   the  purview  of   countless 

thousands  of   the  British  public. 

♦ 

MR.   M.   GIWELB'S   COLLECTION. 

T  will  be  remembered  that  Mr.  Givvelb  was  awarded  a  silver  medal  for 
his  display  of  one  hundred  rare  stamps  at  the  Philatelic  Exhibition  of 
this  year,  a  reward  that  was  doubtless  in  no  inconsiderable  measure  due  to  the 
fine  condition  of  the  stamps  shown.  The  collection  from  which  these  were 
chosen,  and  which  has  been  Mr.  Giwelb's  especial  delight  to  collect  for  some 
years,  is  now  in  process  of  disintegration,  and  its  many  fine  stamps  will  pass  to 
other  owners,  none  of  whom  will,  however,  worship  their  condition  more  than 
their  quondam  owner !  The  collection  includes  a  fine  set  of  Antioquia,  first 
issue,  a  choice  lot  of  Mauritius,  including  the  very  rare  is.,  perforated, 
unused,  and  Spain,  complete,  unused,  except  the  i  r.,  light  blue,  1854,  and 
the  three  inverted  centres.  The  British  North-American  and  West  African 
and  West  Indian  Colonies,  as  well  as  many  other  of  the  European  and 
South  Amercian  countries,  are  represented  by  practically  complete  collections 
in  single  specimen — and  all  in  Mr,  Giwelb's  mint  condition. 


BINDING— SPECIAL  NOTICE. 


HE  attention  of  members  of  the  London  Philatelic  Society  and  sub- 
scribers generally  is  drawn  to  the  facilities  offered  for  having  their 
volumes  of  the  Loudon  Philatelist  bound  in  stock  style,  half  marone 
Morocco,  gilt  top.  Any  of  the  back  volumes  can  be  so  bound,  all  the 
volumes  matching  one  another. 

Copies  of  Volume  VI.  to  be  bound  should  be  sent  as  early  as  possible, 
the  cost  of  binding,  SEVEN  SHILLINGS  per  volume  (which  includes  return 
postage  and  packing),  accompanying  the  order. 

Copies  from  ABROAD  should  be  accompanied  by  a  M.O.  for  EIGHT 
SHILLINGS,  which  includes  return  by  registered  book  post.  Address  :  Mr. 
H.  M.  Gooch,  Effingham  House,  Arundel  Street,  Strand,  London,  W.C. 


352     ] 


lUbidxrs, 


THE   STAMPS    OF   ROMAGNA.* 

"'^^Sf^^^^lH^'HIS   brochure  has  been   reprinted  from   the  columns  of   the 

ulj  i  ^^pMl       Tivibre-Postc — or  rather,  the  columns  themselves  have  been 

W  I  _^^'^'     bodily  transferred,  but  will,  none  the  less,  be  found  of  interest 

^^^m^      to   collectors    of   Italian    stamps.      The    particularly   unin- 

^^a^p         teresting  labels  that  form  the  sole  issue  of  "  the  Romagnas  " 

===^^="      (as     Dr.     Diena     terms     it,     no     doubt     correctly)     would 

hardly  have  seemed  to  have  formed  a  basis  for  seventy  or  eighty  pages  of 

printed    matter,    but    the   accomplished    author    has   gathered    together   a 

complete   history   of    all    that   pertained    to   the   issue   and    withdrawal   of 

Romagna's  only  issue.      The  question   of   the  (unworthy)   disposal  of   the 

remainders   and    the   obsolete   dies   by   the    Government   is   dealt   with   at 

considerable  length,  and  notably  so  by  M.  Moens.     It  would   appear  that 

the  battered  types  were  used  for  reprinting  by  M.  Moens  himself  and  others ; 

but  the  former  seems  never — or  "hardly  ever" — to  have  sold  any  of  the 

products.     When,  however,  in  common  with  so  much  other  trash,  the  types 

wended  their  way  to  Hamburg,  it  was  autre  chose  I     In  our  opinion  there 

is  (only  on  the  question  of  reprints  bien  cntendu)  but  one  act  that  a  dealer 

can  commit  worse  than  reprinting  stamps  himself — i.e.,  to  sell  the  dies  to 

another  man  !      Verb.  sap. 

THE  STANDARD   CATALOGUE.f 

In  their  1898  issue,  which  has  already  appeared,  our  enterprising  Trans- 
atlantic friends  have  introduced  one  or  two  marked  innovations,  which 
certainly  also  constitute  improvements  over  previous  editions. 

(i)  Following  to  a  certain  extent  Messrs.  Stanley  Gibbons'  plan,  the 
post  cards  are  now  eliminated,  a  space  of  some  sixty  pages  being  thereby 
gained,  and  the  work  reduced  to  the  legitimate  pocket  dimensions  that  are 
nowadays  considered  absolutely  necessary. 

(2)  The  system  of  printing  the  variations  from  the  normal  stamps  in 
smaller  print  immediately  following,  has  in  our  opinion  always  formed 
one  of  the  best  characteristics  in  M.  Moens'  world-renowned  catalogues ; 
but  it  has  found  comparatively  few  followers  as  yet.  The  Scott  Co.  have, 
however,  very  wisely  followed  their  lead  in  the  1898  edition,  and  the 
catalogue  is  thereby  immeasurably  improved  and  siviplijicd.  The  great 
object  of  this  class  of  work  is  to  be  comprehensive  without  being  involved, 
to  give  an  idea  to  the  specialist  or  advanced  collector  of  all  that  exists, 

*  The  Postage  Stamps  of  the  Komagtias,  by  E.  Diena  ;  With  a  Study  of  their  Reprints,  by 
J.  B.  Moens.    J.  B.  Moens,  42,  Rue  de  Florence,  Brussels. 

t  The  Standard  Postage  Stamp  Catalogue,  1898.  The  Scott  Stamp  and  Coin  Co.,  Ltd.,  18,  East 
23rd  Street,  New  York. 


REVIEWS.  353 

and  at  the  same  time  to  present  to  the  average  collector  a  list  of  varieties 
that  shall  not  frighten  him.  No  better  plan  can  be  devised  therefore  than 
this  subordination — by  the  use  of  smaller  type — of  all  that  varies  from 
the  normal  and  standard  issues.  The  main  objective  of  these  catalogues 
is  to  encourage  the  general  collector  and  not  to  frighten  him  off,  hence  we 
warmly  welcome  and  recommend  the  further  adoption  of  this  system,  so 
ably  inaugurated  in  the  catalogues  of  M.  Moens.  The  aid  of  footnotes 
could  also  be  more  largely  resorted  to  with  advantage  by  Messrs.  Scott, 
as  in  the  case  of  shades  it  avoids  the  undue  lengthening  of  the  lists,  while 
indicating  to  the  specialist  that  the  limits  of  his  acquisitions  are  not  confined 
to  the  numbers  of  the  catalogue. 

The  general  excellent  features  of  this  work  are  continued,  paper, 
illustrations,  and  type  leaving  little  to  be  desired.  In  the  present  edition 
many  new  issues  and  other  varieties  and  discoveries  are  incorporated,  and, 
taken  as  a  whole,  it  is  fully  up  to  date  and  in  every  way  worthy  of  the 
firm  that  issues  it,  and  its  large  circle  of  readers  on  both  sides  of  the 
Atlantic.  There  is  still  a  tendency  to  price  too  much,  but  in  the  main 
there  is  no  very  marked  rise  in  values — a  welcome  feature. 

The  first  portion  of  the  list,  that  contains  the  U.S.,  is  naturally  a  very 
prominent  feature,  and  betrays  evidence  of  the  labour  that  has  been  devoted 
to  make  it  complete. 

Mr.  Stanley  Castle,  who  is  the  possessor  of  one  of  the  finest  collections  of 
United  States  stamps  in  this  country,  writes  us  as  follows  with  regard  to  this 
portion  of  the  Catalogue  : — 

"A  comparison  of  the  above  with  the  previous  edition,  as  far  as  concerns 
the  stamps  of  the  U.S.A.,  may  prove  of  interest  to  collectors.  Incidentally  I 
observe  that  the  illustrations  are  identical  in  both  editions.  The  most  prom- 
inent features  in  the  fifty-eighth  edition  are  the  inclusion  of  (i)  bisections  and 
(2)  the  principal  varieties  of  shades  of  the  various  issues.  With  regard  to  the 
bisections  I  incline  to  the  opinion  that  the  inclusion  of  these  is  unnecessary  on 
two  grounds,  namely,  that  it  is  carrying  the  search  for  varieties  to  too  great  a 
length,  and  that  bisecting  was  never,  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  authorised  by 
Government ;  and  therefore  these  stamps  are  at  the  best  only  provisionals  of 
a  purely  private  origin. 

"  The  listing  of  shades,  which  has  been  very  carefully  and  thoroughly 
carried  out,  on  the  other  hand  is  a  distinct  improvement  with  regard  to 
the  General  issues,  but  there  do  not  appear  to  be  sufficient  varieties  of  shade 
in  the  Departmental  stamps  to  warrant  a  separate  grouping  of  the  stamps 
printed  by  the  Continental  Bank  Note  Company,  although  it  is  well  known 
that  there  were,  in  many  cases,  large  numbers  of  remainders  of  Departmental 
stamps. 

"Another  improvement  is  the  listing  of  the  stamps  of  the  1869  issue  un- 
grilled,  and  on  this  subject  I  may  mention  that  the  3  c,  6  c,  10  c,  and  12  c. 
are  not  included  ;  the  other  values  apparently  command  very  high  prices. 
The  new  edition  now  includes  the  24  c,  30  c,  and  90  c,  1873,  Continental 
Bank  Note  Company's  printing,  and  complete  sets  of  all  values  of  each 
of  the  Continental  and  American  Bank  Note  Companies'  re-issues  are  now 
quoted,  instead  of  only  four  values  as  in  the  earlier  edition. 


354  REVIEWS. 

"  The  listing  of  ribbed  and  double  papers  of  the  Continental  Companj^'s 
printing,  both  in  the  General  and  Departmental  issues  of  1875,  and  also  the 
inclusion  of  various  stamps  imperforate,  are  to  my  mind  doubtful  improve- 
ments. 

"Exception  might  reasonably  be  taken  to  a  stamp  described  on  Issue 
1879,  American  Bank  Note  Company's  printing,  as  '  10  c,  yellow-brown, 
National  Plate.' 

"  I  have  seen  a  pair  of  10  c,  yellow-brown,  on  soft  porous  paper,  showing 
one  stamp  with  and  the  other  without  the  secret  mark,  thus  indicating  that 
this  variety  is  only  the  result  of  the  wearing  away  of  the  secret  mark  on  the 
Continental  Company's  plate  in  the  course  of  production,  and  that  the 
old  National  Company's  plate  was  not  used  again. 

"  One  other  salient  feature  is  the  division  of  Carrier  stamps  into  '  official ' 
and  'semi-official'  issues;  and  under  this  head  I  may  add  that  certain  stamps, 
hitherto  considered  as  local  stamps,  have  been  included  in  the  latter  category. 
The  reason  for  this  I  am  unable  to  conjecture. 

"  Prices  are  practically  identical  with  those  of  last  year,  the  most  note- 
worthy ri.ses  being  1855,  i  c,  blue,  Type  II.,  and  1S70-1,  National  Company's 
printing,  without  grille,  30  c,  black,  and  90  c,  carmine.  The  falls  are  slight, 
and  only  occur  in  the  cases  of  a  few  used  stamps,  with  one  exception — the 
90  c.  Justice,  which  has  been  very  properly  reduced,  both  used  and  unused ; 
but  the  stamp  is  still,  in  my  opinion,  overvalued." 


[      355      ] 


^cta  Issites. 


NOTES    OF    NEW,    AND    VARIATIONS  OF   CURRENT,    ISSUES. 
(Varieties  of  Obsolete  Stamps,  and  Discoveries,  will  be  found  under  "Philatelic  Notes.") 

We  do  not  profess  lo  chronicle  everything,  hut,  with  the  kind  help  of  correspondents,  are  desirous  that 
all  the  important  novelties  may  be  included.  Speculative  stamps — i.e.  those  not  really  required  for 
postal  purposes — will  he  considered  on  their  merits,  and  Jubilee  issues  tvill  not  he  chronicled. 

Members  of  the  London  Philatelic  Society,  and  other  readers  generally,  are  invited  to  co-operate  with  us 
in  making  the  columns  as  interesting  as  possible.  Our  foreign  readers  can  especially  help  tis  in 
this  direction,  by  sending  copies  of  any  official  documents  relative  to  changes  in  the  current  issues, 
^  early  intimation  of  any  new  issue,  accompanied,  when  possible,  by  a  specimen  ;  such  information 
will  be  duly  credited  to  the  correspondent,  and,  if  desired,  the  specimen  promptly  returned. 
Address:  Editor  "London  Philatelist,"  Effingham  House,  Arundel  Street,  Strand, 
London,  W.C. 


BRITISH  EMPIRE. 

Barbados.— We  regret  having  to  an- 
nounce that  a  Jubilee  issue  has  been  put 
into  circulation,  consisting  of  nine  values. 
No  news  is  as  yet  to  hand  as  to  whether 
this  will  supersede  the  permanent  set,  but 
it  is  scarcely  likely ;  and  we  advise  col- 
lectors to  exercise  due  caution  until  their 
status  is  announced  from  the  proper 
quarter. 

Fiji. — A  correspondent  writing  to  the 
Aiisiralian  Phihilelist  from  Suva,  Fiji, 
announces  the  2d.  value  in  a  new  shade, 
bright  emerald  -  green  ;  the  paper  also  is 
slightly  thicker. 

Adhesive.     2d.,  emerald-green. 

Great  Britain.— A  letter  having  been 
sent  to  the  Secretary  of  the  General  Post 
Office  by  the  writer  to  ask  at  what  date  the 
changes  of  colour  necessitated  by  the  decision 
of  the  recent  Postal  Convention  would  take 
place,  the  following  was  received  in  reply  :— 

"General  Post  Office,  London, 

"7^/2  December,  1897. 
"  Sir, — In  reply  to  your  letter,  which  reached 
this  Department  on  the  29th  ultimo,  I  am  directed 
to  inform  you  that  no  change  is  contemplated  in 
the  colours  of  the  Jd. ,  id.,  and  2id.  adhesive 
stamps.  "  I  am,  Sir, 

"  Your  obedient  Servant, 
"  L.  Bridger, 
"M.  P.  Castle,  Esq."  ^^  Secretary. 

The  language  of  officials  is  not  always 
intended  to  be  understood  of  the  public, 
and  the  "  contemplation  "  may  be  applicable 
only  to  a  limited  period.  Time  will  show, 
as  the  Delectus  hath  it. 
* 


The  5s.  has  lately  been  appearing  in  a 
very  deep  rich  carmine,  which  was  ap- 
parently more  lavish  of  colour  than  intended 
by  the  printers,  as  on  making  a  further 
requisition  for  this  shade  we  found  it  had 
reverted  to  its  previous  tone. 

Hong  Kong.— Mr.  David  Benjamin  has 
sent  us  a  specimen  of  the  provisional  i 
dollar  stamp  alluded  to  last  month.  We 
illustrate  the  surcharge,  which  is  in  black 
on  the  two  dollars  sage-green,  with  Cr.  CC  ; 
perf.  I  six  15. 


DOLLAR 


Newfoundland. — Prior  to  the  issue  of 
the  one  cent  provisionals  chronicled  last 
month  a  hand-stamp  was  used,  bearing  the 
words  "Paid  All"  within  a  circle.  The  date 
of  the  famine  would  appear  to  be  i8. 11.97, 
as  this  is  the  postmark  on  an  envelope 
sent  us  by  Messrs.  Whitfield  King  &  Co., 
with  an  impression  of  the  hand-stamp  de- 
scribed. 

New  Zealand.— We  may  expect  shortly 
the  first  arrival  of  the  new  stamps,  which 
will  in  all  ways  be  a  desirable  acquisition 
in  the  light  of  the  current  poorly-printed 
and  perforated  issue.  The  dies  are  being 
prepared  by  Messrs.  Waterlow  &  Sons,  and 
we  could  wish  that  the  printing  was  also  to 
be  executed  by  that  firm. 

We  are   informed  that   a   Jubilee   set  of 


356 


NEW  ISSUES. 


stamps  is  to  be  issued  by  this  Colony,  to  be 
sold  at  twelve  times  their  face  value !  The 
object  of  this  issue  is  to  provide  a  Free 
Public  Library  for  Dunedin  at  the  expense 
of  unoffending  stamp-collectors  —  in  other 
countries  !  The  scheme  is  even  more 
audacious  than  those  of  the  sister  Austra- 
lian Colonies,  as  they  were  appealing  for  a 
charitable  purpose,  though  to  the  wrong 
quarters  ;  and  we  can  only  hope  that  all 
collectors  will  be  sensible  enough  to  take 
no  notice  of  such  rubbish. 

Sarawak. — Mr.  David  Benjamin  has  also 
sent  us  specimens  of  the  50  c.  and  $1 
stamps  chronicled  last  month  ;  the  former 
is  in  one  colour — green — however,  and  not 
bicoloured.  'Y\i^Aiist.  Ph.  adds  a  2  c.  stamp, 
issued  conjunctly  with  the  two  higher  values. 
Stamps  of  16  c.  and  32  c.  have  also  been 
ordered,  and  by  this  time  should  be  in  use. 

Adhesi-je.    2  c,  lilac  and  carmine. 

Victoria. — The  new  i|d.  value  mentioned 
last  month  has  come  to  hand  from  Messrs. 
Whitfield  King  &  Co.  We  find  that  the 
watermark  is  V  and  Crown,  and  the  per- 
foration 12. 

Adhesive,     i^d.,  emerald-green 

EUROPE. 
Bavaria.— A     Letter     Card     has     been 
issued,  bearing  a  stamp  similar  to  that  on 
the  5  pf.  post  card,  with  the"  Arms"  in  the 
top  left  corner. 

Letter  Card.     10  pf. ,  carmine  on  grey. 

Holland. — Notwithstanding  statements 
that  have  been  made  to  the  contrary,  we 
now  hear  that  upon  the  attainment  to 
majority  of  Her  Majesty  the  Queen  of  the 
Netherlands  a  new  issue  of  postage  stamps 
will  be  introduced.  We  announce  this, 
however,  with  due  reserve. 

Roumania. — The  M.J.  announces  the  25 
bani  perf.  n^  in  place  of  13^. 

Adhesive.     25  bani,  violet  ;  perf,  11  J. 

Russia. — Messrs.  Whitfield  King  &  Co. 
inform  us  that  early  next  year  a  new  set  of 
postage  stamps  will  be  issued,  including  all 
the  present  values,  with  the  addition  of  a 
6  kopecs  stamp. 

WURTEMBERG.— A  Letter  Card  was  also 
issued  for  this  country  on  November  i. 
The  design  of  the  same  we  do  not  know, 
but  the  card  is  duplex  tinted. 

Letter  Card.     10  pf. ,  carmine  on  white,  blue,  and  red. 

AMERICA. 
Chile.  —  Following    our    contemporaries 
we  have  to  announce  that  the  i  peso  value 
of  the    Postage  Due  stamps    now  has  the 
value  reading  "  loo  centavos." 

Unpaid  Letter  Stamp.     100  c  ,  red  on  straw. 


Mexico.— The  A.  J.  of  Ph.  adds  to  the 
stamps  with  the  new  watermark  chronicled 
last  month  : — 

Adhesive.     4  c,  j-ellow-orange. 

Uruguay. — We  give  below  a  list  of  new 
stamps  which,  excepting  in  the  case  of  the 
10  c,  are  the  1895  series  with  the  colours 
changed.  For  the  10  c.  a  stamp  of  the 
accompanying  design 
has  been  prepared. 

Adhesives. 

7  c,    orange. 
10  c,    red. 

20  c,    lilac  and  black. 
25  c,    rose  and  blue. 
50  c,    green  and  brown. 

1  peso,  brown  and  blue. 

2  ,,      ochre  and  carmine. 
nnnnrs\,~j-uu-\j\,-\j-j\^\t          3     n      lilac  and  Carmine. 

OTHER  COUNTRIES. 

China. — j\Ir.  David  Benjamin  writes  as 
follows:  —  "Regarding  the  China  stamps 
recently  issued,  I  understand  that  an  issue 
on  improved  paper,  &c.,  has  been  ordered 
out  some  time  ago,  from  Waterlows  in 
London,  or  some  such  well-known  London 
firm  (the  present  stamps  being  printed  in 
Japan).  They  are  expected  early  next  year, 
and  as  soon  as  received  they  will  be  issued, 
and  the  remaining  stamps  of  the  present 
Japan  print  withdrawn.  It  was  at  first 
hoped  that  the  surcharged  stamps  would 
last  till  the  arrival  of  the  London-printed 
ones,  but  towards  September  the  surcharged 
stamps  were  nearly  exhausted,  so  it  would 
have  been  necessary  to  reprint  a  new  lot  of 
the  1894  stamps,  and  then  surcharge  them; 
and  as  this  would  have  taken  a  lot  of  time, 
and  given  a  lot  of  trouble,  it  was  thought 
simpler  to  issue  the  Japan  print  p>-o  ton. 
until  the  receipt  of  the  London  ones.  I  have 
not  heard  yet  whether  there  are  to  be  any 
changes  in  the  design,  etc.,  of  the  stamps 
being  printed  in  London.''  We  most  de- 
cidedly hope  not !  Any  multiplication  of 
Chinese  varieties  would  be  most  undesir- 
able. We  have  scarcely  recovered  from  the 
provisional  plague. 

Messrs.  Whitfield  King  &  Co.  write  that 
some  sheets  of  the  50  c.  value  were  printed 
in  the  wrong  shade,  dark  blue-green,  in- 
stead of  light  yellow-green.  There  is  also 
a  shade  variety  in  the  4  c.  stamp,  this  being 
obtainable  in  both  light  and  dark  brown. 

Dutch  Indies.— A  30  c.  Unpaid  stamp 
has  been  issued  in  the  current  type,  perf.  14. 

Unpaid  Letter  Stamp.     30  c,  carmine  and  black. 


NEIV  ISSUES. 


357 


Eritrea  — Messrs.  Whitfield  King  &  Co. 
inform  us  that  the  i  c.  and  2  c.  stamps  have 
not  been  issued  as  stated  last  month,  there 
being  still  a  large  stock  of  the  old  types  on 
hand. 

Fernando  Po. — We  have  received  from 
Messrs.  Whitfield  King  &  Co.  the  6  c.  violet 
surcharged  "  5  cent."  in  an  oval. 

Adhesive.     5  c.  on  6  c,  violet ;  surch.  red. 

Japan. —  The  i  sen  is  now  printed  in 
olive-green,  replacing  green. 

Adhesive,     i  sen,  olive-green. 

Persia.  —  The  Austria  Philatelist  an- 
nounces three  new  provisionals  created  by 
surcharging  the  8  shahi  and  5  kran  of 
the  current  issue  in  Persian  and  Latin 
characters. 

Adhesive!. 
5  sh.  on  8  sh.,  brown  ;  surch.  violet. 

1  kran  on  5  kran,  blue  and  silver  ;  surch.  violet. 

2  ,,  .,  „  ..  .1       carmine. 

Spanish  Colonies. — Lc  T.-P.  illustrates 
a  pleasing  design  which  has  been  adopted 
for  the  forthcoming  new  issues  for  Spain, 
Cuba,  Philippine  Islands,  and  Porto  Rico, 
on  January  1st  next.  The  "baby"  king 
has  grown  the  "  boy "  king,  and  is  so 
represented  on  the  stamps.  A  label  at  top 
bears  the  name  and  the  dates  "1898  and 
99."  The  issues  for  Spain  and  the  three 
Colonies  will  afford  no  less  than  eighty  new 
varieties  ! 

Zanzibar  (French  P.O.).— We  learn  that 
the  era  of  surcharges  at  this  Post  Office  is 
not  yet  ended,  but  in  this  case  the  new 
varieties  do  not  seem  dangerous.  The 
Postage  Due  stamps  of  the  French  Republic 
have  been  surcharged  "Zanzibar"  with 
the  value  in  annas,  as  follows  : — 

Adkesives.    i  anna  on  5  c,  blue ;  surch.  carmine. 
I       ,,      10  c,  bistre      ,,  ,, 

ij     ,>      15  c ,  green      ,,  (?) 

3       ,,      30  c,  carmine  ,,    black. 
5       ,,      50  c.,  lilac        ,,        ,, 

With  reference  to  the  late  provisionals, 
which  have  formed  the  subject  of  consider- 
able comment  in  this  journal,  Messrs. 
Whitfield  King  &  Co.  send  us  the  following 
letter,  restating  their  absolute  belief  in  the 
genuine  need  for  this  issue,  and  their  in- 
abihty  (through  various  channels)  to  procure 
a  single  specimen. 


"Zanzibar,  yd  November,  1897. 

"  Messrs.  Whitfield  King  &  Co.,  Ipswich. 
"Dear   Sirs, — I  am  in  receipt  of  your 
favour,  dated  September  28lh. 

"  Being  a  collector  of  British  Colonial  adhesives 
only,  the  French  Post  Office  issues  for  Zanzibar 
have  never  interested  me. 

"So  far  as  I  can  glean,  however,  as  a  result 
of  enquiries  made  since  the  receipt  of  your  letter, 
the  information  supplied  by  you  to  Mr.  Castle  is 
substantially  correct  ;  and  I  may  add  that  the 
opinion  of  the  French  residents  is  that  the  recent 
issue  of  provisional  provisionals  was,  under  the 
circumstances,  necessary. 

"  I  possess  none  of  the  stamps  in  question,  nor 
have  I  made  any  great  endeavour  to  obtain 
specimens. 

"So  far  I  have  only  seen  two  sets  in  Zanzibar, 
both  of  which  were  incomplete. 
"  Yours  faithfully, 

(Signed)  "  C.  BowDEN." 

Messrs.  Whitfield  King  &  Co.  further 
write  us  :— "  We  enclose  official  letter  from 
the  British  Consul  at  Zanzibar,  which  we 
received  this  morning.  We  hope  you  are 
now  satisfied  about  those  French  Zanzibar 
stamps.  We  have  taken  some  trouble 
herein,  but  we  have  no  motive  or  interest 
in  championing  these  stamps  other  than 
a  desire  to  prevent  the  bringing  of  new 
issues  generally  into  disrepute,  which  would 
be  a  far  worse  calamity  to  Philately  gener- 
ally than  any  amount  of  commemorative 
issues.  Since  we  first  wrote  you  about 
the  French  Zanzibar  stamps  we  have  been 
unable  to  obtain  one  single  specimen." 
Messrs.  Whitfield  King  have  clearly  estab- 
lished that  these  stamps  were  produced  by 
genuine  necessity,  and  that  none  are  avail- 
able, as  far  as  can  be  seen,  for  Philatelic 

purposes. 

"  Zanzibar,  November  z%th,  1897. 

"Gentlemen, — I  beg  to  inform  you,  in  reply 
to  your  letter  of  6th  ultimo,  that  from  enquiries 
made  by  me  respecting  the  provisional  stamps 
issued  by  the  French  Post  Office  here  in  July 
last,  it  would  appear  that  the  action  of  the  Post- 
master was  unavoidable,  as  he  had  completely 
exhausted  his  supplies  of  2\  and  5  anna  stamps. 
I  am  informed  that  none  of  these  stamps  were 
sold  to  collectors,  and  that  letters  had  to  be 
brought  to  the  Post  Office  to  be  stamped  there 
in  order  to  avoid  any  speculation  in  connection 
with  them. 

"I  am,  Gentlemen, 
' '  Your  most  obedient  humble  Servant, 

(Signed)         "  Basil  S.  Cave, 

"  H.M.  Actins  Diplomatic  Agent  and  Consul-General." 


[     358     ] 


ipljilalclic   Sor'utics'  ||Icttings. 


THE   PHILATELIC  SOCIETY,   LONDON. 


Honorary  President — H.R.H.  The  Duke  of  Saxe-Coburg  and  Gotha,  K.G.,  &c. 


Council  for  the  Year  1897-98 : 

President— YiJR.Yi..  The  Duke  of  York,  K.G. 

Vice-President — M.   P.  Castle. 

Hon.  Secretary — ^J.  A.  Tilleard.  |  Hon.  Assistant  Secretary — R.  Pearce. 

Hon.   Treasurer — C.  N.   Biggs.  I  Librarian — T.  Maycock. 


W.  B.  Avery. 
E.  D.  Bacon. 
W.  D.  Beckton. 


R.  Ehrenbach. 
E.  B.  Evans. 
D.  Garth. 


T.  WiCKHAM  Jones. 
H.  R.  Oldfield. 
Gordon  Smith. 


The  first  meeting  of  the  season  1897-98 
was  held  at  Effingham  House,  on  Friday, 
22nd  October,  at  7.45  p.m.  The  following 
members  were  in  attendance  :  Messrs.  M. 
P.  Castle,  E.  B.  Evans,  H.  R.  Oldfield, 
R.  Ehrenbach,  R.  Meyer,  R.  Frentzel,  A.  R. 
Barrett,  W.  Silk,  E.  D.  Bacon,  T.  W.  Hall, 
J.  E.  Joselin,  C.  McNaughtan,  F.  E.  Owen, 
A.  B.  Creeke,  E.  J.  Nankivell,  R.  Pearce, 
Gordon  Smith,  and  J.  A.  Tilleard,  with  one 
visitor. 

The  chair  was  taken  by  the  Vice- 
President,  and  the  minutes  of  the  last 
meeting  were  read  and  confirmed.  The 
receipt  of  the  following  gifts  for  the  Society's 
Library  and  rooms  was  directed  to  be 
acknowledged  with  thanks  ;  a  framed  por- 
trait of  the  late  President,  Earl  Kingston, 
from  Mr.  Otto  Pfenninger ;  a  frame  of 
proofs  of  stamps  of  Newfoundland,  presented 
by  Mr.  Hadlow ;  a  bound  volume  of  the 
Revista  de  la  Sociedad  Filatclica  Argcnti7ia, 
1894-97  ;  O  Colleccionador  de  Sellos,  two 
bound  volumes  for  1896-97,  presented  by 
Mr.  Belido  and  Mr.  Huehn  ;  La  Posta  ml 
Secoli  and  Le  Posle  11c I  Mezsiogiorno  d' 
Italic,  presented  by  Mr.  E.  Melillo  ;  Anales 
Sociedad  Filatclico  Satitiagoj  and  Le 
Questiontteur  Timbrophiliqiie,  1892-95,  pre- 
sented by  Mr.  Pierre  Mahd. 

The  Vice-President  read  a  letter  from 
Dr.  Diena,  enquiring  whether  any  of  the 
Society's  works  could  be  obtained  for  the 
Postal  Museum  at  Rome,  and  it  was  decided 
to  present  a  copy  of  Ifidia  a7id  Ceylon  as 
the  only  work  remaining  in  stock. 

The  Secretary  reported  the  loss  sustained 


by  the  Society  through  the  death  of  Mr. 
Hastings  Wright,  and  the  Vice-President, 
having  referred  to  the  service  rendered  to 
the  Society  and  to  Philately  by  the  late 
member,  moved  : — 

"  That  the  members  of  the  Society  having 
heard  with  very  great  regret  of  the  death  of 
Mr.  Hastings  E.  Wright,  desire  to  record 
their  sincere  sympathy  with  Mrs.  Wright  in 
her  affliction."  The  resolution,  seconded  by 
Mr.  Creeke,  was  carried  unanimously. 

An  explanation  was  given  by  the  Secretary 
as  to  the  work  upon  which  Mr.  Hastings 
Wright  was  occupied  in  collaboration  with 
Mr.  Creeke,  who  will  complete  the  book. 
Mr.  Eliot  Levy,  proposed  by  Mr.  W.  T. 
Wilson,  and  seconded  by  the  Secretary, 
and  Mr.  C.  P.  Krauth,  proposed  by  Mr. 
H.  E.  Deats,  and  seconded  by  Mr.  J.  M. 
Andreini,  were  elected  members  of  the 
Society. 

The  question  of  the  meetings  and  the 
business  of  the  season  was  then  considered, 
and  it  was  determined  to  hold  the  general 
meetings  fortnightly  during  the  present 
season,  extraordinary  meetings  being  called 
from  time  to  time  as  occasion  might  require. 
The  Secretary  reported  that  the  Council  had 
appointed  a  Committee  to  arrange  for  the 
business  of  the  meetings,  and  various  sug- 
gestions were  made  for  their  guidance. 

Major  Evans  then  read  a  report  on  the 
work  of  the  Expert  Committee  since  the 
commencement  of  its  duties  in  1894,  and 
on  the  motion  of  Mr.  H.  R.  Oldfield, 
seconded  by  Mr.  Robert  Ehrenbach,  a  very 
hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  to  the 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


359 


members    of   the    Committee— Mr.    Castle,  ' 
Major  Evans,  and  Mr.  Bacon— and  the  report 
was  directed  to  be  entered  on  the  minutes. 

The  Society  for  the  Suppression  of 
Speculative  Stamps  having  requested  the 
Special  Committee  of  this  Society  to  under- 
take the  whole  of  the  work  of  deciding  as  to 
stamps  to  be  denounced  as  speculative  or 
unnecessary,  it  was  decided  to  agree  to  the 
request,  and  the  Committee,  consisting  of 
Mr.  Oldfield,  Mr.  Ehrenbach,  and  Mr. 
Nankivell,  was  increased  to  six  members 
by  the  addition  of  the  names  of  Mr.  Castle, 
Mr.  Gordon  Smith,  and  Major  Evans. 

The  Secretary  reported  that  at  the  recent 
Exhibition  seventy  medals  had  been  gained 
by  members  of  the  Society. 

REPORT  OF  THE  EXPERT  COMMITTEE. 

"This  Committee,  which  was  appointed 
in  April,  1S94,  has  now  been  in  existence 
for  three  years  and  a  half.  The  object  of 
our  appointment  was,  we  believe,  a  two-fold 
one  :  first,  to  act  as  an  Expert  Committee 
in  the  ordinary  sense  of  the  term,  giving  an 
opinion  to  the  best  of  our  ability  upon 
stamps  submitted  to  us  ;  and,  secondly,  to 
be  a  kind  of  Registration  Committee,  to 
which  the  owners  of  rarities  might  submit 
their  stamps  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining 
what  might  be  termed  a  Certificate  of 
Identity,  which  would  accompany  the  par- 
ticular specimen  as  in  course  of  time  it 
changed  hands,  and  might  thus  furnish  a 
history  of  the  specimen  in  question  in  future 
years. 

"  The  utility  of  a  Committee  for  the  first 
of  these  purposes  is,  we  think,  sufficiently 
proved  both  by  the  number  of  stamps  that 
have  been  submitted  to  us  during  the  last 
three  and  a  half  years,  and  by  the  fact  that 
the  specimens  submitted  each  year  show  a 
considerable  increase  in  number  over  those 
of  the  preceding  year ;  and  we  can  con- 
gratulate ourselves  upon  the  fact  that  as  the 
work  of  the  Committee  has  become  more 
widely  understood,  the  value  of  its  certificates 
has  apparently  become  more  highly  appre- 
ciated. 

"  As  regards  the  second  of  the  two  objects, 
we  are  unable  to  report  that  it  has  to  our 
knowledge  been  attained  to  any  considerable 
extent.  We  cannot  say  that  any  number  of 
undoubted  specimens  of  rarities  have  been 
submitted  to  the  Committee  for  purposes  of 
registration  alone.  At  the  same  time  our 
record  of  stamps  examined  and  photographs 
of  those  which  are  pronounced  genuine 
serve  as  a  register  and  a  means  of  identi- 
** 


fication  of  those  copies  ;  and  the  certificates 
which  we  give  in  those  cases  are  in  such 
a  form  as  to  be  the  Certificates  of  Identity 
which  a  Registration  Committee  might  give. 
But  it  must  be  acknowledged  that  if  the 
second  of  the  two  objects  has  thus  been 
effected,  it  has  rather  been  done  as  a  result 
of  carrying  out  the  first  than  as  a  distinct 
and  separate  matter. 

"Our  first  consideration  when  we  were 
appointed  as  a  Committee  had  reference  to 
the  form  which  our  certificates  should  take 
when  we  expressed  a  favourable  opinion 
upon  the  stamp  submitted,  and  we  decided 
that  in  order  to  prevent  any  fraudulent  use 
of  these  certificates  it  was  absolutely  neces- 
sary that  each  should  include  a  photograph 
of  the  stamp  to  which  it  referred.  This 
serves  at  the  same  time  to  make  those 
certificates  form  the  Certificates  of  Identity 
required  for  our  second  purpose. 

"  In  the  case  of  stamps  upon  which  our 
opinion  was  not  favourable,  we  did  not  con- 
sider it  so  necessary  to  identify  them,  and 
we  hesitated  to  make  it  a  condition  that 
we  should  be  permitted  to  mark  such  speci- 
mens in  any  way,  as  we  could  not  claim  to 
be  infallible.  We  fixed  the  fee  for  examina- 
tion with  a  view  to  its  being  sufficient  to 
cover  the  expenses  involved,  and  believing 
that  the  large  majority  of  the  stamps  sub- 
mitted would  probably  be  genuine,  we  made  ' 
the  fee  at  first  2s.  6d.  for  each  stamp,  so  as, 
although  that  sum  would  not  cover  the  cost 
of  passing  round  and  afterwards  photograph- 
ing one  single  stamp  at  a  time,  it  was  likely 
to  be  enough  if  several  stamps  were  circu- 
lated together,  and  more  especially  if  some 
of  ihem  were  not  genuine,  and  therefore  not 
photographed.  Later,  when  we  found  that  the 
genuine  stamps  sent  to  us  were  decidedly  in 
the  minority,  and  believing  that  it  was  not  the 
intention  of  the  Society  that  the  Committee 
should  form  a  regular  source  of  revenue,  we 
decided  to  reduce  the  fees,  and  they  now 
stand  at  2S.  6d.  for  one  stamp  submitted  at  a 
time,  2s.  each  for  two  or  more  sent  together, 
reduced  in  each  case  to  is.  6d.  for  each 
stamp  not  pronounced  genuine  and  not 
photographed. 

"  On  this  basis  there  is  still  some  profit  (as 
is  shown  by  the  accounts),  which  has  been 
handed  over  from  time  to  time  to  the 
Treasurer  of  the  Society  ;  but  we  believe 
that  the  fees  could  not  be  further  reduced 
without  risk  of  loss,  and  we  consider  besides 
that  a  Committee  of  this  kind,  appointed  by 
this  Society,  is  not  intended  for  the  purpose 
of  examining  the  commoner  class  of  stamps. 


36o 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


"To  conclude  with  a  few  statistics.  We 
have  examined  in  all  844  stamps  down  to 
the  present  date.  Of  these,  300  were  pro- 
nounced genuine,  and  upon  the  remainder 
our  opinion  was  unfavourable  or  undecided. 
It  may  be  thought  fairer  to  still  further 
reduce  the  fee  in  future  in  the  case  of 
stamps  upon  which  no  decided  opinion  is 
given ;  but  collectors  who  submit  speci- 
mens (especially  unused  copies)  of  stamps 
which  bear  comparatively  simple  surcharges, 
should  be  aware  that  it  is  practically  im- 
possible to  certify  the  genuineness  of  these 
overprints,  and  that  a  decided  opinion  is 
only  possible  where  the  surcharge  does  not 
agree  with  the  genuine  type. 

"  During  the  first  twelve  months,  from  the 
beginning  of  May,  1894,  to  the  end  of  April, 
1895,  we  examined  121  stamps  ;  during  the 
second  year  213,  during  the  third  358,  and 
since  the  beginning  of  May,  1897,  during 
the  period  which  includes  the  summer 
months,  152,  showing,  as  we  stated  before, 
a  constantly-increasing  amount  of  work. 

"  Finally,  we  would  express  our  hearty 
thanks  to  the  specialists,  members  of  this 
Society,  and  others,  who  have  rendered  us 
assistance,  without  which  it  would  have 
been  impossible  for  us  to  have  carried  out 
our  duties." 

The  second  meeting  of  the  season  1897- 
98  was  held  at  Effingham  House  on  Friday, 
5th  of  November,  at  7.45  p.m.  The  follow- 
ing members  were  in  attendance,  viz.  : 
Messrs.  M.  P.  Castle,  E.  D.  Bacon,  R. 
Ehrenbach,  H.  R.  Oldfield,  R.  Meyer,  R. 
Frentzel,  Rev.  G.  H.  Raynor,  L.  S.  Wells, 
T.  W.  Hall,  C.  N.  Biggs,  A.  R.  Barrett, 
H.  F.  W.  Deane,  W.  Silk,  T.  H.  R.  Crowle, 
T.  Maycock,  T.  Wickham  Jones,  J.  G.  Tol- 
hurst,  F.  West,  Gordon  Smith,  E.  J.  Nan- 
kivell,  R.  Pearce,  E.  B.  Evans,  H.  J.  White, 
N.  Newton,  R.  T.  Stevens,  A.  B.  Creeke, 
B.  D.  Knox,  and  J.  A.  Tilleard,  with  four 
visitors.  The  Vice-President  having  taken 
the  chair,  the  minutes  of  the  last  meeting 
were  read  and  confirmed. 

The  Secretary  reported  the  receipt  from 
Messrs.  C.  E.  Baker,  T.  A.  Ranee,  and  E.  F. 
Hubbuck,  of  letters  announcing  their  desire 
to  resign  their  membership  at  the  end  of  the 
year  owing  to  inability  to  attend  the  meetings 
of  the  Society,  and  the  resignations  were 
directed  to  be  accepted  with  regret. 

After  a  few  words  from  the\"ice-President 
on  the  subject  of  the  death  of  Her  Royal 
Highness  the  Duchess  of  Teck,  with  whom 


the  President,  H.R.H.  the  Duke  of  York, 
was  so  closely  connected,  it  was  resolved  : 
"  That  this  meeting  of  the  Philatelic  Society, 
London,  desires  to  record  its  great  regret 
at  the  loss  sustained  by  the  Royal  Family 
and  the  nation  in  the  death  of  Her  Royal 
Highness  the  Duchess  of  Teck,  and  the  deep 
sympathy  of  the  members  with  the  Presi- 
dent and  Her  Royal  Highness  the  Duchess 
of  York  in  their  bereavement." 

Mr.  Castle  then  showed  a  forgery,  sent  by 
Messrs.  Stanley  Gibbons,  Ltd.,  for  inspection, 
consisting  of  a  pair  of  French  stamps,  ap- 
parently the  10  c.  and  15  c,  bistre  on  rose, 
sc-te?tant,  but  being  in  reality  a  pair  of  the 
10  c.  stamps  with  the  figure  altered  on  the 
second  stamp.  The  alteration  is  very  skil- 
fully effected,  and  collectors  should  be  on 
their  guard  against  this  dangerous  forgery. 

The  business  of  the  evening  consisted  of 
a  display  of  the  stamps  of  Great  Britain. 
The  unused  collections  of  Mr.  White, 
Mr.  Castle,  Mr.  Selby,  and  the  Rev.  G.  H. 
Raynor,  and  the  used  collection  of  Mr. 
West,  were  passed  round,  and  were  inspected 
by  members  with  great  interest.  The  collec- 
tions shown  probably  constituted  the  finest 
collections  of  the  stamps  of  this  country 
ever  brought  together  at  one  time.  Amongst 
the  stamps  not  shown  at  the  recent  exhibi- 
tion were  a  used  copy  of  the  2s.  postage 
stamp,  Plate  3,  and  a  magnificent  unused 
copy  of  the  5s.  telegraph  stamp,  Plate  3, 
on  the  "Anchor"  watermarked  paper,  both 
shown  by  Mr.  White.  Mr.  West  also  called 
attention  to  several  used  copies  of  the  id., 
red,  Die  2,  imperforate. 

On  the  motion  of  Mr.  Bacon,  seconded 
by  Mr.  Creeke,  the  very  cordial  thanks  of 
the  meeting  were  voted  to  the  several 
gentlemen  named  for  their  kindness  in 
submitting  their  collections  for  inspection 
by  members  attending  the  meeting. 


The  third  meeting  of  the  season  1S97-98 
was  held  at  Effingham  House,  on  Friday, 
19th  November,  at  7.45  p.m. ;  the  members 
in  attendance  being  Messrs.  ^L  P.  Castle, 
E.  D.  Bacon,  C.  F.  Dendy  Marshall,  R. 
Meyer,  R.  Frentzel,  T.  H.  R.  Crowle,  W. 
Silk,  A.  R.  Barrett,  C.  N.  Biggs,  T.  W. 
Hall,  E.  J.  Nankivell,  Gordon  Smith,  J.  A. 
Tilleard,  and  B.  D.  Knox. 

The  chair  was  taken  by  the  Vice-Presi- 
dent, and  the  minutes  of  the  last  meeting 
were  read  and  confirmed. 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'  MEETINGS. 


361 


The  Secretary  reported  the  receipt  of  a 
communication  from  the  President  in  ac- 
knowledgment of  the  resolution  passed  at 
the  last  meeting. 

Mr.  C.  F.  Dendy  Marshall  then  read  a 
short  paper  on  the  Railway  stamps  used  on 
letters  in  pursuance  of  arrangement  with  the 
General  Post  Office,  entered  into  in  1891, 
and  invited  the  consideration  of  members 
on  the  status  of  such  stamps  in  Philately. 
In  his  paper  Mr.  Dendy  Marshall  explained 
the  circumstances  under  which  the  stamps 
came  into  existence  and  the  uses  to  which 
they  are  devoted,  giving  a  list  of  the  several 
issues,  and  a  description  of  the  general 
designs  and  of  the  number  of  stamps  on 
the  sheets,  with  particulars  of  all  the 
companies  by  which  the  stamps  are 
employed.  The  paper  was  illustrated  by 
the  writer's  collection  of  the  stamps  under 


consideration,  in  which  nearly  all  the 
varieties  described  were  represented.  A 
series  of  stamps  of  the  South  Australian 
Railway,  employed  since  1885  for  purposes 
similar  to  those  of  the  English  companies, 
were  also  passed  round,  having  been  sent 
by  the  Rev.  P.  E.  Raynor  for  inspection  by 
members  attending  the  meeting. 

On  the  motion  of  Mr.  Castle,  seconded 
by  Mr.  Gordon  Smith,  a  hearty  vote  of 
thanks  was  awarded  to  Mr.  C.  F.  Dendy 
Marshall  for  his  interesting  paper,  which 
will  be  published  in  the  Lofidon  Philatelist 

In  the  course  of  the  discussion  which 
ensued,  the  general  opinion  was  expressed 
that  there  is  not  yet  sufficient  information 
afforded  to  decide  whether  the  stamps  in 
question  can  be  considered  postage  stamps 
in  the  generally  accepted  meaning  of  the 
term. 


BIRMINGHAM   PHILATELIC  SOCIETY. 

♦ 

Honora>y  President— y^.  B.  AvERY,  Esq. 
Hon.  Sec.  and  Treas. — Mr.  G.  Johnson,  B.A., 

208,  Birchjield  Road,  Bimiinghatn. 


Nov.  1 8th.  —  Display,  with  notes  by  R. 
Hollick.  Dr.  R.  Lyon,  Messrs.  E.  Christian- 
sen, E.  S.  Auscher,  and  F.  Margot  were 
elected  members. 

Mr.  R.  Hollick  then  gave  an  interesting 
display  of  the  stamps  of  the  African 
Colonies,  including  fine  copies  of  nearly 
all  the  rarities,  used  and  unused,  with 
blocks  and  complete  panes  of  the  medium 
varieties.  The  minor  varieties  of  die, 
plate,  and  shade  were  carefully  pointed  out. 

Dr.  Lyon  exhibited  a  complete  uncut 
sheet  of  is.,  medium  green  triangular 
Capes  in  mint  condition.  This  valuable 
and  interesting  exhibit  allowed  the  members 
an  opportunity  of  noting  the  arrangement 
of  the  stamps,  the  spacings,  and  the  water- 
marks. The  whole  sheet,  allowing  an 
average  for  the  deckle  edges,  is  2ijxii 
inches,  the  space  occupied  by  the  stamps — 
240  in  number  in  fifteen  rows  of  sixteen — 
is  igf  X  10-1%  inches.  The  space  between 
the  stamps  making  a  pair  is  fairly  even  all 
over  the  sheet,  and  is  about  i]  mm.  The 
space  between  pairs  in  the  same  row  is 
much  more  irregular,  and  varies  from  i\  to 
2  mm.     The  spaces  between  the  rows  are 


nearly  twice  as  great  as  between  the  stamps 
on  each  row,  and  vary  from  2^  to  3  mm. 

The  Anchor  watermark  is  very  evenly 
placed  in  the  centre  of  each  stamp,  while 
the  whole  sheet  is  surrounded  by  a  water- 
mark of  five  parallel  lines,  the  total  width 
of  which  is  ^"ij  of  an  inch.  The  outer  four 
lines  are  interrupted  in  six  places — once  at 
the  top,  once  at  the  bottom,  and  twice  at 
each  side— by  the  word  FO§TA(G-E, 
2/^  X  ^g  inches,  in  open  Roman  capitals. 


Dec.  2nd. — Display— West  Australia.  Lady 
Glyn,  Messrs.  S.  M.  Castle  and  A.  Passer 
were  elected  members. 

Mr.  C.  J.  Phillips  exhibited  his  private 
collection  of  unused  West  Australia,  in- 
cluding almost  every  variety  in  mint  con- 
dition, and  in  a  fine  range  of  shade,  the 
page  of  6d.,  golden-  and  black -bronze, 
being  specially  fine ;  also  a  nice  page  of 
2d.,  brown-black  on  red,  and  some  2d. 
(error),  lilac.  He  also  showed  the  following 
rarities  used  ; — 4d.,  blue,  centre  inverted, 
a  very  fine  copy ;  two  2d.,  brown-black 
on  Indian  red;  2d.,  black  on  red,  rouletted. 


362 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'   MEETINGS. 


and  printed  on  both  sides  ;  2d.,  black  on 
red  — strip  of  three  on  original,  showing 
differences  of  type  ;  early  issues  on  originals, 
showing  dates ;  a  very  fine  6d.,  golden- 
bronze,  on  original  ;  very  fine  pairs  of  6d., 
bronze;  is.,  brown;  id.,  black;  4d.,  blue,  all 
rouletted,  and  on  originals  ;  a  2d.  (error), 
lilac,  and  other  rarities. 


Mr.  W.  T.  Wilson  exhibited  nearly  all 
varieties,  used  and  unused,  in  full  range 
of  shade,  including  large  unused  blocks  of 
the  first  issue,  4d.,  blue,  showing  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  setting,  and  the  varieties  of 
type  ;  also  many  of  the  early  issues  in  mint 
condition. 

G.  Johnson,  B.A.,  Hon.  Sec. 


MANCHESTER   PHILATELIC   SOCIETY. 


President — W.  Dorning  Beckton. 
Hon,  Sec. — A.  H.  Harrison. 


The  fifth  ordinary  meeting  of  the  present 
session  w-as  held  on  Friday  evening,  the 
1 2th  November,  at  the  Grand  Hotel.  The 
President  in  the  chair,  supported  by  six- 
teen members. 

The  minutes  of  the  previous  meeting  were 
read  and  confirmed,  and  Mr.  W.  Grunewald 
then  read  a  paper  on  "  France,"  dealing  with 
the  issues  down  to  the  fall  of  the  Empire, 
w-hich  e.Kcited  very  general  interest,  and  was 
highly  appreciated  by  all  present. 

Both  Mr.  Grunewald  and  Mr.  Beckton 
exhibited  remarkably  fine  collections  of  the 
stamps  under  discussion,  in  which  were 
included  various  copies  of  the  i  franc, 
orange,  used  and  unused,  as  also  a  large 
number  of  the  tete-beche  varieties. 


The  sixth  ordinary  meeting  of  the  present 
session  was  held  at  the  Grand  Hotel  on 
Friday  evening,  the  26th  November.  The 
President  in  the  chair,  supported  by  the 
following  members  : — Messrs.  Abbott,  Bux- 
ton, Coote,  Duerst,  Gibson,  Grunewald, 
Harrison,  Jones,  Munn,  North,  Ostara, 
Oxley,  Pemberton,  Petri,  and  Roberts. 

The  minutes  of  the  previous  meeting  were 
read  and  confirmed,  and  the  date  of  the 
annual  dinner  was  altered  from  December 
17th  to  January  5th. 

The  programme  for  the  evening  was  a 
paper  on  the  "  Production  of  Postage 
Stamps,"  read  by  Mr.  J.  C.  North,  who  gave 
some  interesting  information  on  this  com- 
plex subject.     The  various  stages,  from  the 


initial  manufacture  of  the  paper  down  to 
the  final  process  of  perforation,  were  de- 
scribed in  detail. 


The  seventh  ordinary  meeting  of  the  session 
was  held  at  the  Grand  Hotel  on  Friday 
evening,  the  loth  December,  the  President 
in  the  chair,  supported  by  14  members. 

After  the  usual  formal  business  had  been 
transacted,  Messrs.  T.  H.  Broomhead,  of 
Manchester,  and  William  Brown,  of  Salis- 
bury, were  elected  ordinary  members  of  the 
Society. 

On  the  motion  of  the  Hon.  Librarian  a 
vote  of  thanks  was  passed  to  the  following 
gentlemen  for  donations  to  the  library,  viz. : 
Mr.  M.  P.  Castle,  The  Loiidofi  Philatelist; 
Messrs.  Stanley  Gibbons,  Ltd.,  The  Monthly 
Journal;  Mr.  H.  Hilckes,  two  volumes  of 
his  Auction  Epitome;  The  Scott  Stamp 
and  Coin  Co.,  The  American  Journal  oj 
Philately  J  and  Mr.  W.  Brown,  The  PJ.GB. 

Mr.  G.  B.  Duerst  then  read  a  very  in- 
teresting paper  on  the  "  Issues  of  Schleswig- 
Holstein,"  dealing  with  the  successive 
changes  of  government  in  the  two  duchies, 
which  necessitated  the  various  alterations  in 
the  inscriptions  and  values  on  these  stamps. 
The  different  types  of  the  \\  schilling  were 
minutely  described  in  the  paper,  which  was 
followed  with  the  closest  attention,  and 
highly  appreciated  by  all  present. 

A  vei-y  fine  selection  of  the  stamps  under 
discussion  was  sent  for  the  occasion  by 
Messrs.  Stanley  Gibbons,  Ltd. 

Arthur  H.  Harrison,  Hon.  Sec. 

Grasmere,  Whitefield,  near  Manchester. 


PHILATELIC  SOCIETIES'   MEETINGS. 


363 


THE    PHILATELIC    SOCIETY,    NEW    YORK, 

351,  Fourth  Avenue. 


President — Charles  Gregory. 
Vke-Ptrsidenl—i.    M.    Andreini. 


The  regular  monthly  meeting  was  held  at 
the  Society's  Room,  Collectors'  Club  House, 
351,  Fourth  Avenue,  November  i6th,  1897. 

Called  to  order  at  8.40  p.m. 

Present :— Messrs.  Luff,  Smith,  Lawrence, 
Thorne,  J.  W.  Scott,  Bruner,  and  Lynde. 
President  C.  Gregory  in  the  chair,  and  Mr. 
Andreini,  being  nominated  Secretary  {pro 
tern.)  in  the  absence  of  Mr.  Nast.  Messrs. 
Drew,  W.  F.  Gregory,  and  Walter  S.  Scott 
being  present  as  invited  guests. 

Minutes  of  the  previous  meeting  were  read 
and  approved. 

Routine  business  having  been  disposed  of, 
Messrs.  Lynde,  Scott,  and  Luff  expressed 
their  views  on  the  subject  of  a  Philatelic 
Exhibition. 

The  President,  in  accordance  with  the 
constitutional  provisions,  appointed  Messrs. 
Andreini  and  Scott  Auditing  Committee  to 
examine  the  Treasurer's  account. 

Upon  the  call  of  the  President  for  the 
promised  exhibition  of  British  Colonials, 
Messrs.  Thorn,  Luff,  and  Andreini  exhibited 
to  the  members  portions  of  their  collections. 
Mr.  Thorn's  book  contained  Nevis  to  Zanzi- 
bar in  a  beautiful  array  of  varieties,  supple- 
mented by  his  unrivalled  100  gems,  neatly 


Secretary— ¥K-ET>^TLicvi  Augustus  Nast. 
Treasurer — Henry  Clotz. 


mounted  by  Wilson  for  the  London  Exhibi- 
tion. Mr.  Luff  exhibited  a  portion  of  his  West 
Indies  stamps,  including  handsome  series 
of  Barbados,  St.  Lucia,  and  Tobago.  The 
Secretary  showed  two  books  containing  his 
collection  of  the  countries  alphabetically 
embraced  between  Antigua  and   Cyprus. 

The  members  were  well  pleased  with  the 
evening's  exhibition,  and  the  thanks  of  the 
Society  were  extended  to  the  exhibitors. 
Warm  thanks  were  also  expressed  to  Mr. 
Smith,  who  unexpectedly  showed  a  book  full 
of  die  proofs,  many  of  which  were  new 
to  the  members  present.  Prominent  among 
these  rarities  were  a  series  of  small  figure 
issue  of  1869,  a  proof  of  the  frame  of  the  90 
cents  of  same  issue  with  bust  of  Washington 
in  an  oval,  instead  of  the  regular  Lincoln 
bust  ;  a  one  cent  1870  with  Franklin  bust  to 
the  right ;  a  three  cent  Executive  Depart- 
ment \sic\  and  a  one  cent  Post  Office  with 
bust  of  Franklin— altogether  a  very  hand- 
some lot  of  bank  note  proofs. 

At  the  request  of  the  President,  Mr.  Smith 
promised  to  bring  his  general  collection  to 
exhibit  at  the  next  meeting. 

Adjourned  at  10.15  P-™- 

J.  M.  Andreini,  Secretary  {pro  fern.). 


THE    COLLECTORS'    CLUB, 

35(,  Fourth  Avenue,  New  York. 


/'/•«/</< ;z/— William  Herrick.  |  Vice-President— C\\p.v.\.^i  Gregory. 

Secretary—].   M.  Andreini,  29,  W.  75th  Street. 


Sixteenth  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Gover- 
nors held  at  the  Club  House,  351,  Fourth 
Avenue,  November  8th,  1897.  Present  : 
Messrs.  Scott,  Luff,  Lynde,  and  the  Secre- 
tary. 

Mr.  Lynde  was  chosen  Chairman,  and  the 
meeting  was  called  to  order  at  8.15.  p.m. 

Minutes  of  the  preceding  meeting  were 
read  and  approved. 

The  Secretary  read  communications  from 


Messrs.  Deats,  Wolsieffer,  Bacon,  Green, 
Bartels,  and  the  N.Y.  Printing  Company. 

The  Secretary  reported  that  in  accordance 
with  constitutional  provisions  he  had  mailed 
on  November  ist,  1897,  several  notices  of 
default,  and  on  the  5th  inst.  128  notices  to 
members  about  amendments  to  our  Consti- 
tution and  By-laws,  offered  by  Mr.  Luff. 

The  Secretary  also  reported  that  up  to 
date  no  other  amendments  had  been  offered. 


364 


PHILATELIC   SOCIETIES'   MEETINGS. 


The  Secretary  was  instructed  to  send  a 
list  of  members  to  the  publishers  of  Ch/bi)ien 
of  New  York,  and  to  subscribe  for  one  copy 
of  the  work  for  the  Club. 

The  Treasurer's  report  was  received. 
Balance  in  bank,  $927.05. 

The  Secretary  was  instructed  to  send 
notices  of  annual  meeting  two  weeks  before 


December  8th  to  country  members,  and  one 
week  before  that  date  to  city  members. 

Upon  ballot  the  following  candidates  were 
elected  to  Club  membership  :— Erik  Ene- 
quist,  136,  Liberty  Street,  New  York; 
Robert  A.  McKim,  280,  Broadway,  New 
York  ;  and  they  were  duly  declared  elected. 
J.  M.  Andreini,  Secretary. 


SUBURBAN  STAMP  EXCHANGE. 


Two  A,  one  B,  and  one  composite  packets, 
containing  181  sheets,  valued  at  ^2087 
14s.  I  id.,  were  made  up  and  despatched 
for  circulation  on  November  2Sth.  Many 
good  stamps  (especially  old  Europeans  and 
Colonials)  were  offered  at  reasonable  prices, 
and  sales  are  expected  to  be  above  the 
average.  The  July  packets  should  be  back 
from  the  supplementary  rounds  next  week, 
when  accounts  will  at  once  be  submitted. 
No  packets  were  circulated  in  June  owing 
to  Secretary's  absence  from  home.  Five 
applications  for  membership  were  accepted, 


and  three  declined  during  the  month.  The 
latest  members  include  G.  F.  Metzger 
(Bath),  W.  E.  Daniels  (Bath),  Mrs.  H.  Rose 
(London),  A.  W.  Rothchild  (Bucharest), 
MM.  Bentzen,  Mailing,  and  Golodnoff 
(Copenhagen),  E.  J.  George  (Cambridge), 
Dr.  Hill  Norris  (Aston),  H.  J.  Brown 
(Warwick),  Mrs.  H.  G.  Campbell  (Alder- 
shot),  and  A.  L.  Rayward  (Cardiff).  Col- 
lectors of  all  grades  wishing  to  join  are 
invited  to  apply  for  full  information  to  the 
Secretary.     Good  references  indispensable. 


H.  A.  Slade. 


Ingleside,  St.  Albans. 


[   365     ] 


Corresp0nb^na. 


Communications. — All  commuiiicalions  of  Philatelic  matters  and  Publications  for  Review  should 
be  addressed  to  the  Editor  of  The  London  Philatelist,  Kingston  Lodge,  Richmond  Place, 
Brighton. 

Advertisements  should  be  sent  to  IMr.  H.  M.  Gooch  (Advertising  Department),  Effingham  House, 
Arundel  Street,  I/Ondon,  W.  C. 

Subscriptions.  — The  London  Philatelist  will  he  sent,  post  free  in  Great  Britain  or  the  countries 
of  the  Postal  Union,  to  any  subscriber,  on  receipt  of  6s.  ($1.50).  Subscribers'  remittances  should 
be  sent  to  Mr.  H.  M.  Gooch,  Effingham  House,  Arundel  Street,  Strand,  London,  W.C. 


A   DISCLAIMER. 

To  the  Editor  of  the  "  London  Philatelist^ 
Sir, — On  receiving  the  Londoti  Philatelist 
for  November  I  was  glad  to  see  the  publica- 
tion of  Dr.  Stanley  Taylor's  interesting  paper 
on  the  stamps  of  Grenada.  I  do  not  propose 
in  the  present  letter  to  offer  any  criticism 
of  the  contents  of  that  paper,  but  I  write  to 
correct  an  error  into  which  Dr.  Taylor  has 
fallen  more  than  once  in  the  course  of  his 
remarks. 

He  refers  to  the  Society's  publication  on 
the  stamps  of  the  British  West  Indies,  and 
gives  me  the  credit  of  being  the  author  of 
everything  in  that  work  that  appears  under 
the  head  of  Grenada.  This  is,  of  course, 
quite  inaccurate,  as  the  only  part  I  am 
responsible  for  is  that  headed  "  Preliminary 
Notes."  The  list  of  stamps,  with  the  remarks 
thereon,  that  follows  my  few  notes  is  the 
work  of  the  London  Philatelic  Society,  as  is 
clearly  shown  by  the  separate  heading, 
"  Reference  List  of  the  London  Philatelic 
Society,  London."  Of  course,  collectively 
with  the  other  members  of  the  Society,  I 
am  responsible  for  the  drawing  up  of  that 
list,  but  only  so  far,  and  Dr.  Taylor  certainly 
gives  me  too  much  credit  in  speaking  of  the 
list  as  if  it  was  my  work  alone. 


I  remember  pointing  this  out  in  the  few 
remarks  I  made  after  the  reading  of  the 
paper  at  the  meeting  of  the  Society  on  May 
14th  (not  7th  as  given),  and  although  it  is 
only  fair  to  state  that  Dr.  Taylor  was  not 
present  at  the  meeting,  I  certainly  thought 
the  error  would  have  been  corrected  before 
the  paper  was  published.* 

In  any  criticism  of  the  old  list  of  the 
Society  I  think  it  should  be  borne  in  mind 
that  the  West  Indian  work  was  published  in 
1891,  and  I  venture  to  think  Dr.  Taylor 
would  be  the  first  to  admit  that  at  the  time 
the  list  was  drawn  up  it  was  in  advance 
of  any  list  of  Grenada  stamps  that  had 
appeared  up  to  that  year.  All  collectors 
of  West  Indian  stamps  know  what  immense 
strides  have  been  made  since  1891  towards 
a  more  scientific  arrangement  of  the  issues 
of  many  of  the  islands,  and  Dr.  Taylor's 
paper  shows  that  Grenada  must  be  included 
in  the  number. 

Yours  truly, 

E.  D.  Bacon. 

Croydon,  December-  ist,  1897. 

*  Dr.  Taylor  has  been  travelling,  and  we  have 
had  no  opportunity  of  communicating  with  him. 
Mr.  Bacon's  philatelic  reputation,  however,  hardly 
needs  his  modest  disclaimer  ! — (Ed.) 


<i^-=^ 


o-^ 


[      366     ] 


Ck  Ktarlut. 


r 


19 
8 


Messrs.  Puttick  and  Simpson 
November  16th  and  17th. 

Russia,  1st  issue,  10  kopecs,  im- 

perf.,  unused,  pair 
Geneva,  10  c,  green,  the  double 

stamp    .... 
Ceylon,  imperf.,  2/-,  blue,  unused 

no  gum 
Mauritius,  Post  Paid,  2d.,  blue. 

early  state  of  plate,  unused 

no  margin 
Natal,  imperf.,   wmk.    Star,  3d. 

blue,  unused,  no  gum    . 
British  Columbia,  imperf.,   5  c. 

rose,  unused 
Canada,   I2d.,  black,  laid  paper. 

cut  close 
New  Brunswick,  6d.,  yellow,  un 

used,  small  margin 
Newfoundland,     6^.,     carmine 

unused 
Ditto,  i/-,  carmine,  unused 
Providence,    1846,    a    complete 

sheet,  showing  the  10  c.  and 

1 1  types  of  the  5  c. 
United  States,  periodicals,  1895 

unwmkd.,  i    c.  to  §100,  un 

used  (12) 
Barbados,  no  wmk.,  6d.,  orange 

vermilion,    block    of  4,   un 

used      .... 
Nevis,  CA,  6d.,  green 
St.   Christopher,   CA,  4d.,   blue, 

unused  ... 

Turks  Islands,  2|d.  on   id.,  red 

Gibbons'  Type  10,  unused 
Virgin  Islands,  perf  15,  6d.,  rose 

on  toned  paper,  unused 
New  South  Wales,  laureated,  6d. 

brown,    coarse   background 

unused 
New  Zealand,  imperf.,  blue  paper. 

id.,  red.,  pair 


o 


2    6 


31     o    o 


1200 


28     o     o 


20     o     o 


II   10 

^2       O 


900 


12    10      O 


6 

10 

0 

6 

0 

0 

4 

10 

0 

9 

10 

0 

6 

0 

0 

6 

0 

0 

4 

15 

0 

New  Zealand,  pelure,  2d.,  lilac-  £    s.    d. 
blue,  unused         .         .         .  9  10     o 
Victoria,  5/-,  blue  on  yellow,  un- 
used, no  perfs.  one  side         .  700 

November  30th  and  December  ist. 

Great  Britain,  2/-,  brown,  unused       4   15     o 
Ceylon,  imperf.,  8d.,  brown 
Hong  Kong,  CC,  96  c,  yellow 

brown,  unused 
British       Bechuanaland,       1888, 

"  Protectorate,"    5/-,    green 

unused 
United  States,  1856,  90  c,  blue, 

unused  .... 
Ditto,  1868,  90  c,  blue,  unused 
Ditto,  State,  $5,  unused 
Ditto,  State,  $10,  unused     . 
Ditto,  State  $20,  unused 
Barbados,  clean-cut  perfs.,  wmk. 

Large  Star,  4d.,  rose-red,  un 

used      .... 


II     00 


650 


400 

3  18    o 

500 

1800 

8  15     o 

7     5     o 


600 


Messrs.  Ventom,  Bull,  &  Cooper. 
November  25th  and  26th. 

Hong  Kong,  perf.  12J-,  4  c,  slate, 

unused  .        .         .         .       9  10    o 

Barbados,  CA,  4d.,  grey,  unused, 

block  of  6     .        .         .         .550 

Ditto,   5/-,  ochre,  unused,  block 

of  4 500 

Tobago,  CA,  i/-, orange, "error," 

block  of  4    .         .        .         .       100 

A  collection  of  Western  Aus- 
tralia, 3670  specimens  .         .  260    o    o 

Mr.  W.  Hadlow. 
November  Stb. 
Tuscany,  2  soldi           .        .        .600 
Transvaal,  the  error  "  Transvral," 
on  the  id.,  red  on  blue,  un- 
used       25     o    o 


-^-.X«X"X«<K~»X->X*«J-€*> 


PLYMOUTH  : 
W.    BRENDON   AND  SON,    PRINTERS. 


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